SDP: Elections Department to make voting easier for select group but system still stacked in PAP’s favour

The Elections Department (ELD) is planning to make voting easier for Singaporeans abroad and nursing home residents, yet this does not assuage concerns that it still operates from the Prime Minister’s Office, said the opposition Singapore Democratic Party on Thursday (May 26).

The gerrymandering and arbitrary formation of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) leave the entire election system very much stacked in the People’s Action Party’s (PAP’s) favour, the party added in a media release.

ELD announced on Wednesday (May 25) that it was seeking feedback about postal voting for overseas Singaporeans, as well as special voting arrangements for those in nursing homes.

The department is acquiring feedback from stakeholders, political parties, nursing home operators and Singaporeans abroad regarding the changes.

According to a Channel News Asia report, about 200,000 Singaporeans are residing abroad, although not all are of voting age.

A total of 6,570 overseas Singaporeans registered to vote, and 4,794 cast their ballots during the 2020 General Elections (GE2020).

ELD stated in a press release that the electorate is ageing rapidly, with 21 per cent of Singapore citizens in the Registers of Electors for the GE2020 aged 65 and above, compared to 14 per cent in GE2011.

“While we have enhanced voting accessibility over the years by increasing the number of polling stations, among other initiatives, ELD continues to explore how we can further enhance voting accessibility for elderly voters,” it said.

The new voting arrangements may be piloted at the next presidential elections before the end of President Halimah Yacob’s term of office in September 2023.

After engaging with relevant stakeholders, ELD will be sharing an update on the public consultation in July, said the spokesperson.

SDP noted in its response that the party welcomes the latest move in making voting easier for the select group.

However, the “non-transparent and unfair operation of the ELD, which includes the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, has resulted in the PAP’s overwhelming dominance in Parliament.”

This setup has also allowed the ruling party to stack its number in the House. “This is unhealthy for the process of democracy in Singapore and the future of this country,” said SDP.

“Rather than tinkering around the edges,” SDP renewed its call for the ELD to be made unequivocally independent, and the election process made completely transparent.

“Only then, will Singaporeans be confident that elections are democratic and representative of their will,” it added. /TISG

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