The date for Malaysia's general election has been set on May 9.

The choice of the date, which is a working weekday (and which also happens to be on the same day as Bruno Mar's concert in Kuala Lumpur) has fuelled concerns over low voter turnout.

Critics say that coupled with the shorter campaign -- set for just 11 days, the minimum period required -- the choice of date presents further hardship for voters.

However, in light of the recent event, Malaysians all over have since stepped up to help one another return home to vote.

We've also put together a list of things for you to know (or tell your Malaysian friends) if you're a Malaysian living in Singapore who's planning to vote in the upcoming election.

Checking if you're a registered voter

If you're at least 21 years old, you can check out this guide here to see if you're a registered voter.

If you haven't already registered, unfortunately, it is now too late to do so.

Going back to vote

Taking a carpool

If you're having difficulties going back for various reasons, such as last-minute price hikes by airlines for flight tickets from Singapore during election week, you can always consider carpooling.

Facebook page Jom Balik Undi (Let's go home to vote) brings together Malaysian 'neighbours' who want to help one another to go home to vote.

You can also find well-meaning Malaysians offering to provide financial help for those who need it in order to travel back home.

Getting time off to vote

Malaysian employers have to provide "reasonable" time-off to employees whose hours of work clashes with the time-slot given for voting.

In addition, they are prohibited from any form of salary deductions from employees during the time-off.

Failure to comply will be a breach of the Election Offences Act 1954 which carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM5,000 (~S$1,690) and imprisonment of one year.

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Graphics teaching proper voting technique goes viral

There are several pictures making rounds on the Internet giving would-be voters tips on how to properly cast their votes, here's an illustrated list put together by lmaoitsmayjee and moodoodles.

To make sure that your vote actually gets cast, you have to make sure that

• You leave an X in the column next to your candidate of choice (not a ✓!)
• Your voting ballot is spotless with absolutely no other markings
• Your voting ballot has a serial number and certified stamp

Also, you have to

• Bring your I.C. with you
• Wear clothes without any party's logo on it
• Make sure that your nails are unpainted
• Keep away from your phone
• Avoid taking ballot papers out of, or bring them into polling stations
• Avoid loitering around polling stations after casting your vote

Top image via Getty Images