With three candidates having been efficiently nominated for the function of Presidential Election 2023, Singaporeans will go to the polls on Sept 1.
On the slate are former GIC funding chief Ng Kok Track, 75, former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, and former NTUC Earnings chief Tan Kin Lian, 75.
Polling Day has been declared a public vacation, with polling stations open for voting from 8am to 8pm.
Listed here are six issues to know forward of Polling Day.
1. Singpass will likely be accepted
For the primary time, voters will have the ability to use the Singpass app to confirm their identification at polling stations.
Previously, equivalent to on the 2020 Basic Election, this verification was carried out utilizing the bodily Nationwide Registration Identification Card (NRIC).
All voters will even be despatched an ePoll card which they’ll entry through the Singpass app. The cardboard accommodates info equivalent to their polling station tackle, and voter serial quantity.
Those that would not have a Singpass account, although, can nonetheless select to make use of their pink NRIC and the bodily ballot card. Voters will obtain the ballot card at their newest residential tackle registered with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
2. Extra polling stations and officers, shorter wait time
Extra polling stations will likely be arrange, which is able to reduce ready time for voters.
The ELD has deliberate for 1,264 stations, up from the 1,097 throughout GE2020. With the rise, the variety of voters allotted to every station will likely be lowered to a mean of two,150, from 2,400 earlier than.
Every polling station will even have extra registration counters and poll paper counters. Round 36,000 election officers will likely be deployed, in contrast with 30,000 beforehand.
3. Checking the queues
For these nonetheless nervous about lengthy queues, the VoteQ web site will let voters verify the queue standing at particular person polling stations on polling day.
Throughout GE2020, when it was first used, voters needed to bear in mind the URL and key it in to entry the positioning. This time, voters can entry VoteQ through a hyperlink on their ePoll card on the Singpass app.
They’ll additionally scan a QR code on their bodily ballot card.
4. New stamp for voters to mark their selection
A brand new X-stamp will likely be launched for voters to mark their poll – one that’s wider and extra clearly supposed to function a stamp.
Use of this stamp, whereas inspired, isn’t obligatory. Voters can take alongside their very own pens.
Self-inking pens have been first launched at GE2020. Then, some voters had tried to put in writing a cross with the X-Pen.
5. Abroad postal voting allowed, envelopes must be postmarked
On the upcoming polls, voters dwelling abroad will now be allowed to vote by submit, as a substitute of getting to vote in particular person at Singapore missions in chosen cities.
Postal voters can obtain their postal poll paper and return envelope from the Elections Division’s (ELD) voter providers perform on its web site utilizing the Singpass log-in.
One factor to notice: Return envelopes have to be postmarked earlier than polling day on Sept 1. That is mandatory to make sure the vote was forged earlier than the outcomes of the native vote counts are identified.
It’s advised that postal voters in sure areas or nations affix postal stamps on their return envelopes to make sure that they’re postmarked.
These areas are: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Ghana, India, South Korea and Taiwan.
Postal voters are inspired to mail their envelope again early, because it should attain the custody of the Returning Officer in Singapore by Sept 11 to be accepted for counting, stated the ELD.
Abroad voters who’ve registered to vote in particular person on the abroad polling stations have been despatched their ePoll letter indicating the polling date and hours for his or her station. A replica of this letter can be accessible on ELD’s web site utilizing Singpass.
The ten abroad polling stations are in Beijing, Canberra, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington, DC.
6. Particular polling stations in nursing properties
Particular polling stations will likely be arrange at 31 nursing properties for this 12 months’s presidential election.
The pilot initiative, meant to facilitate voting by seniors, will likely be rolled out in nursing properties with greater than 50 voters every, and can profit 4,087 voters in all, the ELD stated.
The nursing properties concerned within the pilot are:
• Brilliant Hill Evergreen Residence
• Bukit Batok Care Residence
• Econ Care Residence (Henderson)
• Grace Lodge
• Ju Eng Residence for Senior Residents
• Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital
• Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital @ Potong Pasir
• MWS Bethany Nursing Residence – Choa Chu Kang
• NTUC Well being (Chai Chee)
• NTUC Well being (Geylang East)
• NTUC Well being (Jurong Spring)
• NTUC Well being (Jurong West)
• NTUC Well being (Pasir Ris)
• NTUC Well being (Tampines)
• Orange Valley Nursing Residence (Clementi)
• Orange Valley Nursing Residence (Marsiling)
• Orange Valley Nursing Residence (Simei)
• Pacific Healthcare Nursing Residence II
• Ren Ci @ Ang Mo Kio (Nursing Residence)
• Ren Ci @ Bukit Batok Road 52 (Nursing Residence)
• Senja Care Residence
• SNM Nursing Residence @ Chong Pang
• Society for the Aged Sick
• St Joseph’s Residence
• St Andrew’s Nursing Residence (Henderson)
• St Andrew’s Nursing Residence (Queenstown)
• St John’s – St Margaret’s Nursing Residence
• Tampines Care Residence
• The Salvation Military, Peacehaven Nursing Residence
• THK Nursing Residence @ Hougang
• Woodlands Care Residence
This text was first revealed in The Straits Instances.
Supply: Her World
