In another Facebook post emphasizing the importance of polling and counting agents, Dr Tan Cheng Bock urged Singaporeans to be more involved in the electoral process.
He added that “The right to vote is important”.
Calling for people to join them, he added, “You can play a crucial role in ensuring that the electoral process is properly conducted. Be a volunteer and experience the voting and counting process at Polling and Counting centres”.
Dr Tan also clarified that volunteers need not be a member of any political party to participate in this process.
Echoing his sentiment, he said, “I would like to warmly invite you to consider volunteering for this. This is an important responsibility that we all should have”.
Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s Progress Singapore Party seemed to be the first out of the gate in calling for volunteers to join them as polling and counting agents.
According to the Elections Department, candidates or their election agents may appoint polling agents to observe that the poll is carried out in accordance with the law. The candidate or their polling agent may observe the process to transport the sealed ballot boxes from the polling stations to the counting centres.
For the role of Counting Agent, the counting of votes cast is usually conducted immediately after the close of the poll. This usually takes place on the night of Polling Day and may continue into the early hours of the next day.
Candidates may appoint counting agents to observe that the counting of votes is carried out in accordance with the law, but each candidate may appoint only one counting agent to observe the counting at each counting place.
Singapore’s next parliamentary general election must be held by 15 April 2021. /TISG