Singapore reveals coronavirus-era election measures, as July poll speculation increases
Singaporean election officials on Monday said special measures such as the allocation of suggested "time bands" for voters to cast their ballots and priority for elderly citizens to vote in the morning would help ensure that the country's upcoming general election does not compromise public health.
Also in the slew of measures announced by the Elections Department for the safe conduct of the polls in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic was a 25 per cent increase in the number of polling stations to 1,100 to reduce crowding.
The department's announcement followed requests by opposition parties in recent weeks for clarity on election rules as speculation rose that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong may call a general election in July, soon after circuit breaker measures currently in place are further eased.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong must call elections by April next year. Photo: Reuters alt=Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong must call elections by April next year. Photo: Reuters
Singapore's constitution grants the prime minister full prerogative powers to trigger elections at any time during a government's term of office. Observers have suggested he will do so as soon as possible to avoid being caught out by a future wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.
The government's term is set to expire in January and elections must be called by April.
While questions have been swirling over whether physical political events will be permitted, the agency said it would only release campaigning guidelines "at a later date" based on guidance from the Health Ministry, and depending on when the polls are called.
"Should prevailing health advisories restrict large group activities, the Elections Department will ensure that voters have access to the campaigning messages of all political parties and candidates," it said in a statement. "This may include additional TV broadcast time for candidates and political parties."
The Elections Department urged political parties "to plan for modes of campaigning that minimise large group gatherings" and said that as with previous elections, online campaigning can continue in accordance with guidelines.
Officials said there would be "enough time" for political parties to launch their campaigns, and that guidelines would be revealed before the president declares an election.
Singapore has announced special election measures for the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Bloomberg alt=Singapore has announced special election measures for the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Bloomberg
To ensure safety on polling day, the Elections Department said the country's 2.65 million voters would be allocated a "two-hour voting time band" that it hoped would spread them out across polling hours. Those aged above 65 would be given time slots between 8am to noon.
"Voters are encouraged to cast their ballots during their allotted time bands, although they may do so at any time when the polling stations are open," the department said.
Voters and election officials will be required to wear masks and disposable gloves, while cleaners will be deployed to "ensure a high level of hygiene and cleaning frequency throughout polling hours".
The set of measures announced on Monday will complement the contingency plans written into a new law the government passed in May for the conduct of polls during the pandemic.
The legislation will allow voters in mandatory isolation in government facilities to vote outside their normal electoral divisions.
Aspiring candidates will also be able to file their nomination papers in absentia if they are ill or are serving similar "stay-home notices" at designated state facilities.
Boat Quay with the Singapore financial district in the background. Photo: Bloomberg alt=Boat Quay with the Singapore financial district in the background. Photo: Bloomberg
In the briefing, officials also outlined updated online election advertising guidelines.
The Elections Department cited a need for clearer guidelines as polls elsewhere, including in neighbouring Indonesia, featured the misuse of online advertising. In particular, officials highlighted the "exponential increase in false information on the internet targeting candidates" during Indonesia's general election last year.
The rules, among other things, will require candidates to clearly state whether the ads are paid for by them, by their political parties, or by an authorised third party campaigner.
Among the changes are also a requirement that expenses on internet election advertising are itemised in submissions to the Elections Department.
Singapore has strict rules on election expenses, with spending capped at S$4 (US$2.8) per voter in single-seat precincts. In larger group representation constituencies (GRCs) " which help ensure parliament has a multiracial mix of lawmakers " the spending cap for each candidate is S$4 per voter divided by the number of members in the contesting team. GRCs have either four or five MPs.
In the last general election in 2015, members from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) spent S$5.3 million (US$3.8 million) on the 89 seats it contested. The eight opposition parties that fielded candidates spent S$1.8 million (US$1.2 million) in total. The PAP won 83 of the 89 seats and 69.9 per cent of the vote.
Following a redrawing of electoral boundaries, the upcoming election will see a contest for 93 seats, including 17 GRCs and 14 single-seat wards.
The PAP has been in power since 1959 and has held a parliamentary supermajority since 1968. Apart from the Workers' Party " which has six parliamentary seats " no other party has elected representatives.
Local observers say the opposition's electoral chances are partly encumbered by a combination of infighting, poor funding and institutional restrictions put in place by the PAP.
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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