what to do when voting for the first time
The fourth dimension is virtually and the general election season is upon united states of america. For virtually Singaporeans born between 1994 and 1999 (aka me), the upcoming general elections volition be the first time we'll exist participating in the process of determining who should run the country.
Voting is, in a manner, a rite of passage, the sign of beingness a true-blue Singaporean adult. Information technology tin, on the other mitt, seem like a huge responsibleness and rather daunting, especially for those who haven't been especially interested in politics, or as boomers say: Blah.
That'south why at AsiaOne we've devised this first-timer's guide that covers what you need to know about voting day, no-frills fastened, and then all of us (read as: me) know what to await on the day itself.
Now the first question that probably comes to mind is:
Do I actually have to vote?
No dubiety near it, yes.
If you're a Singaporean citizen that's 21 years of historic period (or older) as of March 1, 2020, it is compulsory for you to vote in the upcoming GE.
This is provided that you've got a registered Singapore address on your NRIC (if residing in Singapore) or have registered a Local Contact Address (if residing overseas), and if you haven't been disqualified from existence an elector under prevailing law.
If that'south disruptive, you could always head on to any one of these places to check if you're eligible.
- Online via the Elections Section Services (sign in using your SingPass)
- At community centres/clubs (with NRIC/passport);
- At Singapore overseas missions that serve equally overseas polling stations (with NRIC/passport); and
- At the Elections Department part (with NRIC/passport).
Should yous decide to forfeit your vote and not turn up, your name would be removed from the Registers of Electors (the listing of people who are required to vote) and you would have to submit an entreatment if you want to have your name restored.
Not-voters who take a valid reason for not voting would have their names restored for free, such every bit being overseas or medically unwell, while those without would take to pay a fee of $50.
How long volition it take?
Surely with the entire neighbourhood (an exaggeration) crammed into a single polling station, y'all'd think you'd have to allocate the entire day just for queuing, correct?
Thankfully, that's not the case.
Prior to polling day, you'll exist mailed a poll menu along with the address for your designated polling station. If you practice not receive your poll bill of fare, do call the Elections Section or your closest community centre to recollect one.
For the upcoming GE, an east-Poll card will also be issued, which you lot can admission from your SingPass mobile app.
Each resident will exist alloted a recommended two-hour time-slot on their polling carte du jour to help ease the flow of the crowd. Should everyone abide by their allocated time-slot, the total amount of time spent inside a polling station (yes, inclusive of registering, all virus-related safety measures and the actual voting) should not exceed five minutes.
However, should you lot exist accompanying a senior voter during the morning time, you might be required to wait a little longer.
How practise I vote?
On the day itself, bring forth an official form of photograph identification, such as your NRIC or passport, and head to the polling station.
You will be required to mark your selection with an Ten in one of the empty boxes on the ballot paper. Drawing a tick instead of a cross in place of your vote may render your vote spoilt, and may not contribute towards the final tallies in your constituency.
Practice note that yous are also not immune to sign or make any identifying marks on your election that may identify y'all. You should not prove your newspaper to anyone else in the polling station either.
In one case washed, drop your ballot into the ballot box earlier leaving.
Of class, with the coronavirus pandemic and strict safety regulations this year, the actual voting is a picayune different from by year. Cheque out the new list of additional measures, mainly for safety purposes, here.
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What non to do at a polling station?
Beyond leaving any form of identification in your ballot paper and keeping your vote secret, here are other things you lot shouldn't do at a polling station.
- Utilise your phone in a polling station as no cameras, videos or any photographic equipment are allowed in the polling station
- Bring anything that shows any political party's or candidate's symbol
- Loiter outside a polling station – it's an offence.
Now that you've fulfilled your duties as an ethical citizen, all you lot've got to practise is head home and await for the results to come out in one case everyone has cast their vote.
For more information on the dos and don'ts for voting on voting twenty-four hours, head to the Elections Section website.
Are you a first fourth dimension voter or perhaps just non all too familiar with what happens during a general election? Click hither to read everything yous need to know about GE2020.
rainercheung@asiaone.com
Source: https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/first-time-voters-guide-voting-voting-day-first-time-voter
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