After two weeks of campaigning, a total of 1,234,198 Penangites will cast their votes today.
Unlike the last two general elections, campaigning here has been somewhat subdued for the two main coalitions contesting, namely Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Unlike the last two elections too, it is difficult to read the voters' sentiments this time around.
Until the ballot papers are counted tonight, it is still anybody's game although the scales seem to be tilting towards the PH-BN coalition.
Many predictions have been made in the past two weeks, saying that the PH-BN coalition would retain power, albeit with a much reduced majority. Many also predicted that the Malay-majority seats would go to PN.
Several political analysts whom the New Straits Times approached agreed that the PH-BN coalition was well on its way to forming the next state government.
Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Datuk Dr P. Sivamurugan said, while the PH-BN coalition would form the state government, it would no longer have the super majority which they enjoyed before.
He said both main coalitions started with internal issues, namely selection of candidates, seat distribution and focus on Malay-majority seats.
"The sentiment/emotion reached highest in this campaign although the PH-BN coalition focuses on track record and way forward for the state.
"But from what I see, the PH-BN coalition will form the government, with no longer super majority," he said.
Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun said both sides were hopeful of either retaining or wresting the state government, and as such, have been campaigning vigorously.
However, he also said it was likely the PH-BN coalition would form the next state government with a much reduced majority.
"There will be no more two-thirds majority. But if PN can win all the Malay-majority seats, as well as the mixed seats, they could squeeze through to form the next state government."
Oh said, for the Malays, the issue was basically to what extent they identified with Pas' religious leanings. For the non-Malays, he added, it was basically how many of them would come out to vote for PH.
Ninety-five candidates are vying for the 40 state seats in the state. Four of the 40 state seats — Bagan Dalam, Perai, Sungai Pinang and Pantai Jerejak — will see four-cornered fights and seven state seats (Padang Lalang, Bukit Tambun, Tanjung Bungah, Air Putih, Kebun Bunga, Pulau Tikus and Batu Uban) will have three-cornered fights.
The remaining 29 seats are straight fights between the two big coalitions.
DAP suffered a blow when former three-term Perai assemblyman Dr P. Ramasamy quit the party on Thursday, citing his dissatisfaction with several leaders.
He subsequently helped the two independent candidates for Perai David Marshel and Bagan Dalam M. Satees to campaign.
Both had also quit DAP, citing interference in the party's candidate list for the state election.
It will be interesting to see if the Indian votes would swing following Ramasamy's departure as he was instrumental in bringing in the community's support for DAP.