Leong Sze Hian
Since voting is compulsory, what happens if you do not vote in the elections?
Your name will be removed from the register of voters.
You can restore your name to the register of voters, if you pay a fee of $50.
For those who have a valid reason, such as being away from Singapore, no fee is charged.
Why was the fee increased from $5 to $50?
Will this fee deter some Singaporeans from restoring their names to vote in the future?
The procedure to apply to restore one’s name to the register of voters seems overly onerous, as according to the Elections Department’s web site:
“For those who claim to be overseas to work or study, or to be living with a spouse who is working or studying overseas, the passport plus an employer’s letter or educational institution’s letter, and marriage certificate would be required. For those who were on an overseas vacation or business trip, the passport plus documents showing that the trip had been planned before Nomination Day should be produced, such as receipts from travel agencies, air tickets, hotel booking receipts, or a suitable letter from your employer.”
Wouldn’t one’s passport showing that one was overseas suffice?
Why the need for an employer’s or educational institution’s letter, marriage certificate, documents showing that the trip had been planned before Nomination Day, etc?
Is the Elections Department saying that from Nomination Day onwards no Singaporean can travel, other than for work, study or illness?
Given that the procedure and criteria are arguably quite troublesome or unreasonably onerous, I wonder how many people may simply not bother at all, and also not pay the $50.
Well, I recently met one person like that.
Are there any countries in the world which charges a fee to restore citizens’ constitutional right to vote?
How many Singaporeans have not restored their names, in the last few elections?
I have analysed the number of Singaporeans who did not vote in the 2011 elections. They are ranked below from the highest percentage of voters who did not vote in a constituency, to the lowest.
Ranking of Non-voters (%)
Single Member Constituency (SMC)
Joo Chiat 13.0%
Mountbatten 12.3
Radin Mas 8.5
Potong Pasir 7.2
Yuhua 6.9
Whampoa 6.7
Hougang 5.8
Hong Kah North 5.1
Pioneer 5.0
Bukit Panjang 4.8
Punggol East 4.8
Sengkang West 4.4
Group Representation Constituency (GRC)
Moulmein-Kallang 10.7%
Holland-Bukit Timah 9.7
East Coast 9.2
Bishan – Toa Payoh 9.0
Marine Parade 8.7
West Coast 7.7
Jurong 6.7
Aljunied 6.6
Ang Mo Kio 6.5
Chua Chu Kang 5.8
Pasir Ris - Punggol 5.6
Tampines 5.4
Nee Soon 5.3
Sembawang 5.2
(Source: Lianhe Wanbao, May 8)
The hotly contested SMC wards of Joo Chiat, Mounbatten and Potong Pasir, appear to have relatively higher percentages of non-voters, at 13, 12.3 and 7.2 per cent, respectively.
New citizens
What was the impact of new citizens voting in this election?
As there were about 90,000 new citizens over the last five years, the estimated number of new citizens in each of the 87 constituencies is about 1,034 (90,000 divided by 87 constituencies).
So, for example, in Potong Pasir, where Mrs Lina Chiam lost by only 78 votes, after counting the overseas votes, how many of the 7,973 residents who voted for the PAP’s Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, were new citizens?
Of course, new citizens could have voted for Mrs Chiam, instead of Mr Sitoh Yih Pin.
Also, how many non-voters were there, compared to the last 2006 elections?
How many Potong Pasir residents did not restore their names to the register of voters, in the 2006 elections?
Finally, perhaps we could try to find out the categories of reasons as to why the 1,495 absentee voters in Potong Pasir did not vote?
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When my mp came to deliver my polling card I ask him my husband had demantia and is in a nursing home,how to go about to inform the polling dept.cos 1day he might be able to vote.the mp says report to the eletrolect department after the election,if I have the letter from the doctor must I pay $50 .I can have my lunch & dinner for 5days,$50 is a lot for me( senior citizen )coz I m unable to work.also I know of a PR selling 3room flat for over $341k to a local & the cov is $20k . The gov. Should protect us singaporeans 1st .if the PR wants to buy/sell a flat in the open market.it should charge more stamp duty, so that it won’t encourage ‘profiting’.it’s so sad to know so many of us singaporeans can’t afford to buy our own flat while PR can freely purchase and sell their flat like communities,and worst still,maybe 1 day they will return to their own country with all ‘our’ money.so I hope the gov. Will reconsider the above matter seriously not let us even singaporeans becomes 2nd class citizen,even our jobs & rice bowls are taken by much younger PR & foreigner,not to mention senior citizen like us. Who will want to employ us. Worse will slowly go to depression.please help us singaporeans.
Few weeks ago at around 10.30pm I saw this senior citizen lady(must be around age 75+ )selling tissue paper at Clementi Kopitiam near Clementi Vibes mall, I feel very pity so old and work so late so I buy tissues from her a few times although I have my own.last week(few days ago) I saw another v old man clearing utensils( cups & plates/ bowls) also at this coffeeshop(Kopitiam) this man is more pitiful than the old lady (I think He started work not long ago ) v sad so v old have to clear tables when I am writing to u I feel v sad am feel with tears.the coffeeshop lady told him, uncle work slowly,perhaps some of you would like to go and witness yourself.why in this age old people are still toilling like that. I am appealing to anyone who can help,really breaks my heart go and see for yourself,you will be crying in your hearts ,
did you ask that poor uncle and poor auntie who they voted for?
Recently I hope I am not wrought,learn from local papers that PR can buy gov. Subsides HDB houses.please put a law that only PR became S’pore. Citizen than they can purchase Houses from HBD, whether in open market or not.my tenant told me his parents is going to apply for PR once her sis and brother-in-law became S’pore citizen(at present PR)his parent also got private property in their own country,learn from my tenant, he have been working in S’pore for about 3-4 years.and he’s contemplating whether to apply for PR or go back to his own country,coz they got a house in their own country.I only know my tenant for about 3-4 months.his mother told me that he is considerating going back to his home country coz he is not happy working here,so after his family becomes S’pore citizen & PR, and he is also going to apply for PR too,I am asking why is it so easy to apply and become PR & S’pore citizen,in this case through ‘quan ci’ (connection)