The Malaysian Election Commission was established on 4 September 1957 in accordance with Article 114 of the Federal Constitution. At the time of its establishment, the Election Commission consisted of a Chairman and two (2) Members.

The first chairman of the Commission is YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Mustafa Albakri bin Haji Hassan, while its members consisted of Mr. Lee Ewe Boon and Mr. Ditt Singh.

Following the establishment of Malaysia in 1963, the number of Commission Members was increased to three (3) people. The additional members are either from Sabah or Sarawak who are appointed on a rotating basis.

YBhg. Datuk Abang Haji Marzuki bin Nor from Sarawak became the first member to represent the two (2) states. In 1981, an amendment to Article 114 of the Federal Constitution was made to enable the appointment of a Deputy Chairman. Encik Abdul Rahman bin Abu Hassan was the first person to fill the position of Deputy Chairman. In 2002, an amendment to the Federal Constitution was approved to increase the membership of the Election Commission to seven (7) people, namely a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and five (5) Members including one member from Sabah and one member from Sarawak. To enable it to carry out its functions, the Election Commission formed a Trusteeship headed by a Secretary. This secretary acts as the chief administrator for the secretariat. The first secretary appointed was Mr. H. Cassidy who served from 1957 to 1958.

Since its establishment in 1957 until 1978, the Commission’s Headquarters are located at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Jalan Clark, Kuala Lumpur. From 1978 to 1985 the Election Commission operated at the Selangor Foundation Building, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. In 1985 it moved to Tong Ah Building, Jalan P.Ramlee and operated there until 1988 before moving to Levels 5-8, Menara Bank Pembangunan, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. In November 2000 the Commission’s Headquarters moved to its current location in Putrajaya.

The main functions of the Election Commission are as follows:-