Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666
POLL CARDS
Polling Day is Saturday, 3rd November 2001. Polling commences at 8:00am and closes at 8:00pm.
Eligible voters in the contested electoral divisions will begin to receive their poll cards from Friday 26 October. All eligible voters should have received a poll card by Monday 29 October. The poll card will show where a voter needs to go to cast his or her vote. Voters would have to vote in the electoral division corresponding to their NRIC addresses as at 31 August 2001. Voting is compulsory.
VOTING
Poll cards are printed in batches of four, to accommodate up to four voters living in the same household. The card should then be cut up as appropriate and distributed among the respective voters. On polling day, bring your poll card and NRIC with you to your designated polling station. On arrival at the polling station, you can identify your specific polling counter (or room) by referring to the polling place number stated on the poll card. Polling officials will be on hand to direct you to the correct place.
If you have not received your poll card by 29 October 2001, or have misplaced it, you may check your polling details by logging onto the Elections Department website at www.elections.gov.sg or make an enquiry at a nearby community centre. The hotline for community centres is Tel: 8381266. If you are required to vote, simply note down the location of your respective polling station and polling place number, and go there, with your NRIC, to cast your vote.
The following categories of persons will not receive poll cards:-
(a) Voters in uncontested electoral divisions;
(b) Citizens whose names are not in the current Registers of Electors;
(c) Voters who failed to vote at previous Presidential and Parliamentary elections and who have not restored their names to the Registers of Electors;
(d) Citizens who were less than 21 years of age on 31 August 2001;
(e) Persons who were issued with Singapore citizenship certificates or pink identity cards, and thus became Singapore citizens, after 31 August 2001; and
(f) Holders of non-citizen (blue) Singapore identity cards.
VOTING FOR THE ELDERLY & INVALID
Voters who are 65 years old and above on 31 December 2001 and invalids will be given priority to enable them to vote expeditiously at the polling station.
Voters who are 65 years old and above on 31 December 2001 can be identified by the symbol ">>>" printed on their poll cards.
TAN BOON HUAT
RETURNING OFFICER
25 OCTOBER 2001 1700HOURS
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Basic Q&As
Q: When will I receive my poll card?
A: All eligible voters will receive their polling cards in their mail-box from 26 –29 Oct 2001.
Q: How do I check whether I need to vote or not?
A: You can check whether your electoral division is contested and whether you are eligible to vote via two methods
Q: What if I am not listed on the Register of Electors. How do I get to vote?
A: You would not be able to vote during this GE. If you want to get yourself reinstated to vote in the next GE, you should contact the Elections Department after this General Elections at the Elections Department website at www.elections.gov.sg or by Fax: 3323428. The address of Elections Department is 11 Prinsep Link, Singapore 187949.
Q: What if I do not receive/misplace my poll card? Can I still vote?
A: The Poll card does not entitle you to vote, it merely identifies the polling station whereby you could cast your vote. For those who do not receive their Poll cards by 29 Oct or who have misplaced their Poll card, they may log onto the Elections Department website at www.elections.gov.sg to print out their polling station address and polling place number, or they could make an enquiry at a nearby community centre (Tel: 8381266).
On Polling Day, as long as you appear at your designated polling station with your IC or passport, you would be eligible to vote if your name is found on the register of electors for the contested division.
Q: When and what time can I vote?
A: You can vote on Saturday 3 Nov 2001, between 8 am and 8 pm at the polling station specified on your poll card.
Q: Is voting compulsory? Will I be penalised if I do not vote?
A: Voting is compulsory. If you fail to vote, your name will be removed from the Register of Electors and you will have to reinstate your name to vote in future elections. To reinstate your name, you need to write in to the Elections Department. If you cannot furnish a good and sufficient reason for your failure to vote, you have to pay $5 to restore your name to the Register of Electors.
Q: What assistance would be given to handicapped persons to vote? Is it compulsory for them to vote?
A: Handicapped persons would be permitted to ‘jump queue’ at polling stations. They are encouraged to vote on their own. However, if they are incapable of casting their own vote, they may request for assistance from polling staff. All polling staff are sworn to secrecy and are authorised to assist handicapped persons in casting their votes. Friends or relatives are not permitted to directly assist handicapped persons in casting their vote.
Q: Can I vote on my elderly parents’ behalf?
A: You cannot vote on their behalf but you can accompany them to the polling station. Priority to vote would be given to elderly or handicapped persons at polling stations. If your parents are incapable of voting on their own, you could approach polling officials to assist your elderly parents in casting their votes.
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