“The G knows!”
The campaign period of GE 2020 is well underway, and we are witnessing party candidates both making rounds in their constituencies and appearances on TV to talk about their plans for Singapore should they be elected.
The volume of conversations around GE 2020 has increased on social media platforms since the start of the elections, and one of the recurring questions that always crops up during election season is on the secrecy of the voting process. While not everyone sits and stews on this particular issue, a fair bit of thought to a deep-rooted belief that has been firmly planted in the minds of some citizens if they don’t vote for the incumbent party.
Consequently, this has conjured up some level of fear because rumour has it, that by not doing so, life will be adversely affected and bad things will happen to you. One of these ‘bad things’ could include losing your job if you are found out to be a civil servant, or someone who is working for the government.
There are some who have long believed that elected officials can and do access information about who a citizen voted for. Even for experienced voters, these doubts may discourage them from coming to the polls or supporting their preferred candidate in some contests.
Even till today, many doubts about the secrecy of the voting process are surprisingly prevalent. Many say that their ballot can be matched to their name, or that election agents could observe their vote choices while they were voting. There seems to be an important divergence between public perceptions and the institutional status of the secret ballot in Singapore, a divergence that may affect patterns of voting behaviour and political participation.
A Singaporean’s guide to voting during the COVID-19 pandemic
The voting process during the COVID-19 pandemic will understandably be different from those of previous years. Additional precautionary measures will be put in place at polling stations; expect temperature screenings to be conducted at the start of the queue, in addition to wearing a mask and adhering to the one-meter safe distancing rule. Voters will also have to sanitise their hands and put on disposable gloves before receiving their ballot paper.
So apart from that, how do you actually go about voting?
- On the 10th of July, which is officially sanctioned as ‘polling day’, it is compulsory for you to cast your vote at your respective polling stations.
- If you’re unsure which constituency you will be voting for, please check here. Polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm. However, every voter is encouraged to vote during their allocated time band.
- Before making your way to the polling station, you need to prepare at least one identity document (read: i/c, passport, civil service card, etc).
- You will also need to bring your polling card — this would have been mailed out to your registered home address after nomination day. You can also, otherwise, login to your singpass and use the e-poll card.
- These documents are required for you to receive an official ballot paper, which with it you can proceed to the voting booth.
- Once you’re in the booth, mark your choice (please bring your own pen!) on your ballot paper clearly with a ‘X’ in the empty box-space beside the name, photo and symbol of the candidate, or candidates for GRCs.
- Do not sign or make any other marks that can identify you, and do not show your ballot paper to anyone else.
- Fold your ballot paper, drop it into a ballot box and leave the polling station immediately.
The law guarantees the secrecy of votes by requiring everyone authorised to be present at polling stations or counting places to make an oath of secrecy. After the election, all ballot papers and documents relating to the election are sealed and placed in the ballot boxes, which are stored securely at the supreme court for six months before being destroyed. Representatives of candidates at the election are invited to check that the ballot boxes have not been reopened, and to witness the sealed boxes being burned in the incinerator.
The serial numbers on ballot papers are to enable strict accounting of all ballots issued and cast. They also prevent allegations of voter impersonation, when another person pretends to be a registered voter and votes on his or her behalf. While serial numbers could potentially compromise ballot secrecy, ballot papers can only be examined under strict conditions.
Yes, your vote is confidential
The secret ballot is an important feature of democratic states. For a voting process to generate legitimacy, however, citizens must be aware of the institutions that are set up to protect the secrecy of the ballot and believe that these institutions are implemented honestly and effectively.
The past elections have shown time, and time again that political parties in Singapore have reminded citizens that their votes are secret. This year is no different. With COVID-19 season in full effect, election candidates from various parties have been utilising social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube to reach out to voters, mobilize supporters and influence their public agenda.
“If you vote out of fear, then you deserve to live in fear. You need to vote out of conviction.” — Walid J. Abdullah
A voting system is put in place for voters to express their choices, and how these choices can be translated into the eventual election of candidates into public office. It is absolutely vital that Singaporeans strive towards making an informed choice without feeling to disenfranchise themselves due to the apparent lack of confidentiality of the voting process.
Stay calm, stay informed
Get to know the candidates contesting in your electoral division by tuning into their online rallies. Additionally, keep up with national issues affecting Singaporeans, and how the various political parties propose to address them. For instance, the LGBTQ+ community has long been systemically disadvantaged, and the different political parties have varying stances on its issues. Heckin Unicorn has highlighted each party’s perspective here, as well as how their manifestos will affect the community.
If climate change is a cause you feel inclined towards, Greenwatch highlights how various political parties tackle this via a scorecard, ranking policies related to transport, electricity, and the fossil fuel industry.
Going through the various manifestos of different political parties can often be time-consuming and confusing, particularly for the first-time voter. If all these seems like too much information to absorb within the next couple days to make an informed decision, here’s a comprehensive spreadsheet outlining each party’s manifesto that are categorised according to various social issues, ranging from labour, media and the arts, to civil liberties and education.
