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Tag: Elections Department

  • Elections Department Announces Changes To Elections-Related Processes

    Elections Department Announces Changes To Elections-Related Processes

    The Elections Department (ELD) on Thursday (Aug 20) announced a series of revisions to some elections-related processes, “as part of ongoing efforts to update and enhance election processes”.

    Increase in Parliamentary Election Expenses Limit

    To account for inflation, the maximum spending limit will be raised from S$3.50 to S$4.00 for every voter on the register of electors for the electoral division in which a candidate is seeking election to be a Member of Parliament, the ELD said.

    “The law imposes a ceiling on a candidate’s election expenses to ensure a level playing field. Spending in excess of the maximum amount in the law is an illegal practice.”

    Maximum number of posters and banners in Electoral Divisions

    A maximum number of posters and banners that can be displayed is set for each candidate or group of candidates contesting in an electoral division. In past elections, candidates were provided this maximum number after the close of nomination proceedings (on Nomination Day).

    “To better facilitate candidates’ planning, ELD has published on its website in advance the formulae to compute the maximum number of posters and banners for each electoral division,” the department said.

    The maximum number of posters and banners allowed is:

    1 poster to every 50 electors in the register (rounded to nearest 100), subject to minimum of:

    • 500 per SMC,
    • 2,000 per 4-MP GRC,
    • 2,500 per 5-MP GRC, or
    • 3,000 per 6-MP GRC.

    1 banner to every 5,000 electors in the register (rounded to whole
    number), subject to minimum of:

    • 5 per SMC,
    • 20 per 4-MP GRC,
    • 25 per 5-MP GRC, or
    • 30 per 6-MP GRC.

    Closer placement for the display of posters and banners

    Candidates are not allowed to display posters and banners within a designated radius from a polling station, to minimise undue influence on voters.

    As there has been a significant increase in the number of polling stations to improve voter accessibility, the current 200-metre prohibition zone has resulted in limited areas for the legitimate display of posters and banners, especially in built-up residential estates, the ELD said.

    “Hence, the radius of the prohibition zone for the display of posters and banners will be reduced from 200 to 50 metres.”

    Malay Community Committee and Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee

    Every group of people who wish to stand for parliamentary election in a group representation constituency (GRC) is required to have at least one candidate belonging to either the Malay community, or the Indian and other minority communities.

    In addition to the nomination paper and Political Donation Certificate, the group is required to produce a Certificate of the Malay Community Committee (MCC) or a Certificate of the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee (IOMCC) to the Returning Officer on Nomination Day, the ELD said.

    To be issued the certificate, the person must apply to the appropriate committees by submitting the completed forms (hardcopy) to the Elections Department.

    Ballot Paper to include candidates’ photos

    To make it easier for voters, especially the elderly, to identify the candidates they wish to vote for, candidates’ photos will be included in the ballot papers for the next General Election, ELD announced.

    The new ballot papers will be larger to accommodate the photos.


    Candidates’ photos on the ballot papers were introduced for the first time at the 2011 Presidential Election, garnering generally positive public feedback.

    Other format changes to help voters mark their choices clearly include white boxes against a darkened background, and wider gaps between the boxes to mark “X” to prevent voters from marking across boxes of different rows.

    Details of the format changes will be made known closer to Polling Day of the General Election.

    CHANGES REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO BE VISIBLE TO VOTERS: ANALYST

    Political analyst Eugene Tan, an Associate Professor at the Singapore Management University’s School of Law, said the changes would require candidates to be visible to the voters.

    “That just means having to walk the ground, not just during the hustings but also in between elections. I think this will help the candidates be more recognisable, and I think that is very important because you are choosing a representative to represent you in Parliament and I think it’s important that the candidates are people who are familiar with the issues, and with the voters,” he said.

    “I think having the photos on the ballot papers would also remind voters as to who precisely they are voting for. In the past, there’s been a lot of reliance on the party name, party logo – but I think with this change, it’s not just the party that matters, but also the candidates, because ultimately it’s also about putting in place people in Parliament,” he added.

    When asked if the change will benefit the incumbents since their posters and banners are displayed in their constituencies, Assoc Prof Tan said the change would be benefit the People’s Action Party because “of the fact that they are represented in most constituencies”.

    “But it will also benefit any other party that conscientiously walks the ground in between General Elections,” he added.

    “I see the changes as an attempt to raise the standards – trying to ensure that people do not just vote for the parties, but also for the candidates. I think it is important that the two go hand in hand,” Assoc Prof Tan said.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Elections Department Makes Changes To Polling Districts

    Elections Department Makes Changes To Polling Districts

    The Elections Department has made changes to the boundaries of polling districts within several electoral divisions, adding to the anticipation of an imminent report from the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said was formed two months ago.

    Details of the alterations in eight Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) were published in the online version of the Government Gazette today (July 21). These GRCs are: Chua Chu Kang, East Coast, Jurong, Moulmein-Kallang, Nee Soon, Pasir-Ris Punggol, Sembawang and Tanjong Pagar.

    In response to TODAY’s queries, an Elections Department spokesperson said the boundaries of polling districts are altered to ensure an even distribution of voters across polling stations. In February this year, the Elections Department also posted a notification on alterations to polling districts.

    Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, the Registration Officer may periodically alter boundaries of polling districts within electoral divisions. This is due to population shifts, such as with the mushrooming of new towns.

    But the changes to the districts do not necessarily mean tweaks to electoral boundaries: The latter are only later decided by an EBRC, comprising senior civil servants. The committee can create new electoral divisions by taking one or more polling district from a constituency and putting it into another.

    The committee will submit its recommendations to the Prime Minister and, if accepted, these are gazetted and published in a report — usually an imminent sign the General Election is on the way. The next polls must be held by January 2017.

    The only change in today’s gazette is the addition of one polling district in East Coast GRC, making 41 in total.

    As it stands, Pasir-Ris Punggol is the GRC with the highest number of polling districts (72). Holland Bukit TImah is the GRC with smallest number of polling districts (34).

    For SMCs, Potong Pasir has the fewest polling districts (5), while Sengkang West has the most (16).

    There has been wide variation in the window between changes made to polling districts and the release of the EBRC report.

    In the last three polls, the lag has ranged roughly from three weeks to two months.

    Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan said the latest notification is a routine step by the Elections Department and a separate exercise from the EBRC report.

    “But it’s also clear that polling districts provide the EBRC with the most granular data in terms of the number of voters in a polling district, which means that if the EBRC feels there’s a need to redraw boundaries — let’s say they’re looking at maybe this particular GRC needs 5,000 more voters to make it on par with GRCs of a similar size — this is where the polling districts provide very useful information on the number of voters,” he said.

    Nevertheless, he thinks the polling districts are unlikely to go through another round of changes before the next General Election is called, “which means that if they’re going to redraw boundaries, it means that particular district is unlikely to be split (between) electoral divisions”.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Revised Registers Of Electors Certified, Open For Public Inspection

    Revised Registers Of Electors Certified, Open For Public Inspection

    The revised registers of electors have been certified and are now open for public inspection.

    In a statement today, the Elections Department revealed that there are a total of 2,460,484 voters on the rolls.

    Eligible voters may check their particulars at the Elections Department or at community centres with their NRIC or passport, or online at the Elections Department website.

    Those overseas can also check their particulars at the 10 overseas missions that serve as overseas registration centres.

    People whose names were removed from the voter rolls because they failed to vote at a previous election may continue to apply to have their names restored, the Elections Department said.

    Meanwhile, eligible voters who are overseas, and who have resided in Singapore for at least 30 days between Feb 1, 2012 and Jan 31, 2015, may register as overseas electors to vote at a designated overseas polling station.

    With the revision to the rolls, Singaporeans overseas who had previously registered as overseas voters will also need to re-register.

    The Elections Department added that those applying to restore their names to the rolls or to register as an overseas voter should do so early, as applications will close when the Writ of Election is issued.

     

    Source: http://news.asiaone.com

  • Elections Department Setting Up Hotlines To Handle Expected Surge In Public Queries

    Elections Department Setting Up Hotlines To Handle Expected Surge In Public Queries

    It looks like preparations for the next Election are really gearing up as the Election’s Department is also looking to set up a dedicated elections hotline.

    Calling for a tender earlier this month, the Elections Department said that they were looking for the set up of hotline to address what they expect to be a surge in public inquiries. According to the elections department, the hotline can cost up to $1 million.

    Earlier, the Elections Department also put out the list of revised constituency boundaries and electoral lists.

    While the Elections Department has continually emphasised that these measures are just part of ongoing preparations which are conducted routinely, there is a lot of speculation in cyberspace that elections will be called very soon.

    Many are expecting an early election sometime this year as it is SG50 and people are expected to be in generally high spirits after a year-long celebration for Singapore’s Golden Jubilee.

     

    Source:www.therealsingapore.com

  • Elections Department: Registers Of Electors Revised, Open For Public Inspection

    Elections Department: Registers Of Electors Revised, Open For Public Inspection

    The registers of electors have been revised and will be open for public inspection from Feb 24, 2015 to Mar 9, 2015, the Elections Department said in a press release on Monday (Feb 23).

    The revised registers contain the names of all qualified electors and may be checked through four channels:

    • Online at the Elections Department website
    • At community centres or clubs
    • At Singapore overseas missions that serve as overseas registration centres
    • At the Elections Department, located at 11 Prinsep Link, Singapore 187949

    The latter three methods will require the individual’s NRIC or passport.

    INCLUSION AND REMOVAL OF NAMES FROM REGISTERS

    During the inspection period, a person may submit a claim or objection to include or remove his name from the revised registers of electors.

    A claim to update one’s particulars can also be submitted during this period.

    These changes can be made via the four methods stated above. Claims and objections submitted online must be done via SingPass.

    RESTORATION OF NAMES AND REGISTRATION AS OVERSEAS ELECTOR

    Singaporeans whose names were removed from the registers of electors for failing to vote at a previous election may apply to restore their names to the registers.

    Overseas Singaporeans, whose names are listed in the registers and who have resided in Singapore for at least 30 days between Feb 1, 2012 and Jan 31, 2015 may register as overseas electors.

    Following the revision of the registers, overseas Singaporeans who have been registered earlier as overseas electors will also have to re-register to vote at any one of the designated overseas polling stations.

    The registrations can be done through the abovementioned channels. Applications will close with the issuance of the Writ of Election.

    OVERSEAS POLLING STATION IN DUBAI

    The Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai) has been designated as an overseas polling station for future elections. This is in addition to the nine overseas polling stations at Singapore’s overseas missions in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, London, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Canberra.

    The Elections Department said the overseas polling station in Dubai will facilitate overseas voting and registration for overseas Singaporeans in the Middle East region.

    More information about the addresses of registration centres can be found at www.eld.gov.sg.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com