With nomination day concluded on June 27 (Saturday), the battle for the Johor state election has officially entered its next and arguably most crucial phase—the campaign period.

The Election Commission (EC) has confirmed that 172 candidates from various political parties have been cleared to contest in the 16th Johor State Election following the close of nominations at 56 nomination centres on Saturday.

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said all 172 nomination papers submitted before the 10am deadline were accepted, with no nominations rejected. Of the total candidates, 138 are men while 34 are women.

In terms of party representation, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are each fielding 56 candidates, followed by Perikatan Nasional (PN) with 33 candidates, Parti Bersama Malaysia with 15, Parti Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (MUDA) with four, while Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Asli) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) are each contesting one seat. Six independent candidates are also in the race.

With the field of candidates now finalised, political attention shifts from nomination day to the campaign trail, where organisation, messaging and grassroots mobilisation are often far more influential than nomination-day optics.

Although large crowds accompanying candidates during the nomination process can generate headlines and create an early perception of momentum, political experience has shown that crowd size rarely guarantees electoral success.

Likewise, candidates who arrived with relatively modest groups of supporters should not be dismissed, as elections are ultimately decided by voters rather than displays of strength on nomination day.

The campaign period presents every candidate with the opportunity to engage directly with constituents, communicate policy priorities, address local concerns and build personal credibility.

Candidates who maintain a disciplined ground campaign, possess strong local networks and communicate effectively often outperform expectations, regardless of the size of their nomination-day entourage.

This is especially true in state elections, where local issues frequently carry greater weight than national political narratives.

Door-to-door visits, community engagement programmes, ceramah, and effective use of digital platforms can all influence undecided voters during the campaign period.

The ability to sustain voter outreach over the coming days may ultimately prove more valuable than the symbolism of nomination day.

Equally significant, though often receiving less public attention, is the preparation of Polling and Counting Agents (PACA).

While candidates are the public face of any election campaign, PACA personnel serve as the frontline guardians of the electoral process on polling day.

Well-trained PACA members are responsible for observing polling procedures, ensuring compliance with election regulations, monitoring ballot handling and vote counting, and raising any legitimate concerns through the proper channels.

Their presence helps reinforce transparency and confidence in the electoral process.

Political parties that begin PACA recruitment and training well before polling day generally enter the final stage of the election with a stronger operational advantage.

Comprehensive preparation—including familiarity with election procedures, efficient communication, transportation arrangements and deployment planning—is essential, particularly in constituencies with multiple polling streams or geographically dispersed voting centres.

Even the most popular candidate can face unnecessary challenges if polling-day operations are poorly coordinated.

Likewise, a highly organised PACA operation can help ensure that every valid vote is properly accounted for and that electoral procedures are followed throughout the voting and counting process.

As Johor’s election campaign gets underway, success will likely depend on three interconnected elements: the candidate’s ability to connect with voters, the campaign team’s organisational discipline, and the effectiveness of election-day operations through a well-prepared PACA network.

Nomination day may have set the stage, but it is the campaign that follows—and the professionalism displayed on polling day—that will ultimately determine who earns the mandate to govern Johor for the next term.