Counting of votes cast in Singapore is conducted immediately after the close of the poll in Singapore. This usually takes place on the night of Polling Day and may continue into the early hours of the next day.

Immediately after the close of poll, the slits on the ballot boxes through which ballot papers are dropped into the boxes are sealed. The ballot boxes are then transported to the designated counting places for the counting of votes. Each counting place will be designated to count the votes cast at one or more polling stations. Counting will commence upon the arrival of all the ballot boxes designated for counting at the same counting place.

The Returning Officer will publish the address of each counting place in the Government Gazette at least two clear days before Polling Day. Usually, three to seven of such counting places are grouped together in a single venue. This venue is commonly referred to as a counting centre.

After the counting of votes for each electoral division, the counting results will be transmitted to the respective principal counting centre where the votes will be added up to obtain the total number of votes cast in the electoral division for each candidate/group of candidates.

	NUMBER OF COUNTING AGENTS

After Nomination Day, counting agents must be appointed by –

1. for Single Member Constituencies: the candidate or his election agent; or
2. for Group Representation Constituencies: any candidate in a group of candidates, any election agent of a candidate in the group or the principal election agent for the group.

Only one counting agent for each candidate/group of candidates may be appointed to observe the counting at each counting place.

	FORMS TO PRODUCE BEFORE ENTERING COUNTING CENTRES AND PRINCIPAL COUNTING CENTRE

For candidates

The candidate will need to produce a duly completed and signed Oath of Secrecy form (if he has not visited any polling station during the polls) and show his original NRIC (physical or digital) or valid passport at the main entrance of the first counting centre he visits or at the principal counting centre. After checking, the election official will retain the Oath of Secrecy form.

For counting agents

Every counting agent must produce a duly completed and signed Oath of Secrecy form, evidence of his appointment as a counting agent and his original NRIC (physical or digital) or valid passport to the election official at the main entrance of the first counting centre. The counting agent’s evidence of appointment should be in the form of the Appointment of Counting Agent form. After checking, the election official will retain both forms.

The counting agent should submit a new and duly completed Appointment of Counting Agent form for each counting centre that he enters. After checking against the counting agent’s original NRIC (physical or digital) or valid passport, the election official will retain the Appointment of Counting Agent form. If the counting agent presents a Polling Agent or Counting Agent Re-entry card bearing an Acknowledgement of Oath of Secrecy label (i.e. he has earlier submitted his Oath of Secrecy form at the polling station where he was appointed as a polling agent or at another counting centre where he was appointed as a counting agent), the counting agent does NOT need to submit another Oath of Secrecy form.

For principal election agents

The principal election agent will need to produce a duly completed and signed Oath of Secrecy form and show his original NRIC (physical or digital) or valid passport at the main entrance of the principal counting centre before entering. After checking, the election official will retain the Oath of Secrecy form.

Nominated candidates and their election agents can download the forms via Candidate Services. The forms in hard copy will also be provided to candidates at the end of nomination proceedings on Nomination Day if the election is contested.

	UNDERSTANDING THE COUNTING PROCESS

Counting agents should acquaint themselves with the counting procedures so as not to cause unnecessary delay or disruption to the counting process.

Before start of count

At each counting centre, candidates and counting agents may observe the pre-count testing of counting machines to be used for verification. Candidates and counting agents who wish to witness the pre-count test should be present at the counting centre by 7.30 pm. Each candidate/group of candidates may have only one counting agent accompanying them to observe this process.

The counting of the votes at each counting place must begin as soon as all the ballot boxes containing the ballot papers to be counted at that counting place are received. Although candidates and their counting agents are allowed to observe the counting process, the count will not pause solely because candidates or their counting agents are absent.

Candidates and counting agents who are present will be invited to inspect the ballot boxes before they are opened for counting. When the ballot boxes are opened, the Returning Officer and his counting assistants shall pour the ballot papers out of the boxes onto the counting table. All the ballot papers will then be mixed before sorting begins.

Counting process for ballot papers cast at ordinary polling stations in Singapore

During the counting process, the Returning Officer will conduct a sample count to obtain an early indication of the possible outcome of the election, and to help election officials verify the results.

The Returning Officer and his staff will ensure all precautions are taken to prevent any individual from viewing the numbers printed on the back of the ballot papers during the counting process.

The sorting and counting process must be carried out continuously, so candidates and their counting agents should refrain from interrupting the process.

Tendered ballot papers will be sorted in a separate pile and sealed. They will not be counted.

Legal powers of Assistant Returning Officers

During the count, the Assistant Returning Officer in charge of a counting place is responsible for determining whether a ballot paper should be counted or rejected.

Under the law, the following ballot papers must be rejected:

1. a ballot paper which does not bear the complete official mark for the authentication of ballot papers or is not initialled by the election official;
2. a ballot paper on which votes are given for more than one candidate/group of candidates;
3. a ballot paper on which anything is written or marked by which the voter can be identified e.g. a voter signs or writes his name or NRIC number;
4. a ballot paper which is unmarked; and
5. a ballot paper which is void for uncertainty.

As the ballot paper shall clearly demarcate the area within which a voter must mark his vote for a candidate/group of candidates, Assistant Returning Officers are required under the law to only consider the marks made by voters within the demarcated area on ballot papers. If a voter makes a mark outside of the demarcated area, the Assistant Returning Officer must disregard that mark when determining whether the voter has given his vote to any candidate/group of candidates.

A ballot paper on which the vote is marked otherwise than by means of a cross or by more than one marking will not be treated as void if the intention of the voter as to which candidate/group of candidates he wishes to give the vote to is clear, and the way the paper is marked does not of itself identify the voter.

The Assistant Returning Officer indicates his decision to reject any ballot paper as invalid by endorsing the word “REJECTED” on the ballot paper. Before doing so, the Assistant Returning Officer must show the ballot paper to candidates or their counting agents who are present at the counting place and hear their views. The decision of the Assistant Returning Officer whether any ballot paper shall be rejected is final.

When counting is completed at a counting place, the Assistant Returning Officer will orally announce the number of votes given to each candidate/group of candidates to the candidates and counting agents who are present at the counting place and then transmit the certified record of counting containing the number of votes given to each candidate/group of candidates to the principal counting centre for tallying of votes.

All ballot papers cast by overseas voters, i.e. votes cast at overseas polling stations and by the postal voting method, must reach Singapore within 10 days after Polling Day. The Returning Officer will arrange for the counting of overseas votes to be conducted in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents as soon as practicable after the 10th day after Polling Day.

The Returning Officer may extend time by another seven days for the overseas votes to reach Singapore if two conditions are fulfilled. First, where the total number of overseas voters entitled to vote at the election is material to the election outcome. Second, where the Returning Officer is satisfied that more time is needed for the overseas votes to reach Singapore, e.g. due to disruptions in overseas postal services due to strikes, etc.

For transparency in the counting process, the following information on overseas voters will be made available progressively to candidates and their counting agents after Nomination Day:

1. total number of registered overseas voters;
2. list of registered overseas voters by electoral division (ED), polling district (PD), and voter’s serial number (VSN);
3. list of designated postal voters who voted at the ordinary polling stations in Singapore sorted by ED, PD and VSN; and
4. total number of overseas votes cast at overseas polling stations and by the postal voting method.

	NUMBER OF COUNTING AGENTS

For counting of votes cast by overseas voters

After Nomination Day, counting agents must be appointed by –

1. for Single Member Constituencies: the candidate or his election agent; or
2. for Group Representation Constituencies: any candidate in the group, any election agent of a candidate in the group or the principal election agent for the group.

Five counting agents for (a) each political party that has one or more candidates in a contested election, (b) each group of independent candidates in a contested election, and (c) each independent candidate (not being part of a group of candidates) in a contested election, may be appointed to observe the proceedings of the pre-count examination of postal voting papers and counting of postal ballot papers and ballot papers cast at overseas polling stations. Political parties are required to manage the appointments of the five counting agents from amongst the candidates/groups of candidates they have fielded.

There will be a maximum number of representatives allowed at each area demarcated for pre-count examination of postal voting papers. If three or fewer areas are demarcated, a maximum of four representatives for (a) each political party that has one or more candidates in a contested election, (b) each group of independent candidates in a contested election, and (c) each independent candidate (not being part of a group of candidates) in a contested election, can be in those areas. If four or more areas are demarcated, one representative for each political party/group of independent candidates/independent candidate is allowed in each of those areas.

The representative must be (a) in relation to a political party, a candidate of the political party or a counting agent for the political party, or (b) in relation to a group of independent candidates, an independent candidate in the group or a counting agent for the group in relation to a group of independent candidates, or (c) in relation to an independent candidate (not being part of a group of independent candidates), the independent candidate or a counting agent for the independent candidate.

	FORMS TO PRODUCE BEFORE ENTERING COUNTING PLACE FOR OVERSEAS VOTES

For candidates

The candidate will need to produce a duly completed and signed Oath of Secrecy form (if he has not visited any polling station or counting centre for local votes), and his NRIC (physical or digital) or valid passport at the main entrance before entering the counting place. After checking, the election official will retain the Oath of Secrecy form.

For counting agents

Every counting agent must produce a duly completed and signed Oath of Secrecy form, evidence of his appointment as a counting agent, and his original NRIC (physical or digital) or valid passport at the main entrance before entering the counting place. The counting agent’s evidence of appointment should be in the form of the Appointment of Counting Agent (at Counting Place for Overseas Votes) form. After checking, the election official will retain both forms.

Nominated candidates and their election agents can download the forms via Candidate Services. The forms in hard copy will also be provided to candidates at the end of nomination proceedings on Nomination Day if the election is contested.

	UNDERSTANDING THE COUNTING PROCESS

Counting agents should acquaint themselves with the counting procedures so as not to cause unnecessary delay or disruption to the counting process.

Counting process for votes cast at overseas polling stations

The rules relating to the counting and rejection of votes cast locally are generally applicable to votes cast at overseas polling stations.

Counting process for votes cast by postal voting method

To ensure that only bona fide postal ballot papers are counted, a pre-count examination of postal voting papers will be conducted to sieve out return envelopes which do not meet the criteria to be accepted for counting, e.g. return envelopes which are torn or have postmarks dated on Polling Day or later. Candidates may refer to the Counting of Postal Votes infographics and Your Guide to Postal Voting video to find out more about the steps involved in the counting of the postal votes.

The rules relating to the counting and rejection of votes cast locally are generally applicable to votes cast by the postal voting method.

After counting is completed, all ballot papers and other relevant documents must be sealed up in separate packets and placed in one or more depository boxes. The depository boxes must then be sealed with the seal of the Returning Officer and the seals of attending candidates or their counting agents who wish to affix their seals.

The Returning Officer must conduct one (and only one) recount of the votes if the difference between the number of votes cast in favour of the candidate/group of candidates with the most votes and the number of votes cast in favour of any other candidate/group of candidates is equal to or less than 2% of the total number of votes cast (excluding rejected votes and tendered votes) at the election.

During the recount, all valid votes cast for the election are recounted. No recounting of overseas votes will be conducted if the overseas votes have no impact on the election outcome (i.e. the Returning Officer has already declared the candidate/group of candidates to whom the greatest number of votes is given to be elected on Polling Day).

If the overseas votes have an impact on the election results, i.e. the number of overseas votes has brought the margin of difference of total number of votes (sum of local and overseas votes) cast between the two candidates/groups of candidates with the highest number of votes within the 2% margin, only one recount of the overseas votes will be conducted.

When counting is completed for all the votes cast in Singapore (including a recount, if any), the Returning Officer will tally the number of votes given to each candidate/group of candidates based on the records of counting received. Once this is ascertained, the Returning Officer will announce the number of votes given to each candidate/group of candidates to the candidates/groups of candidates and their election agents/principal election agents who are present at the principal counting centre.

If the total number of overseas voters entitled to vote at the election is less than the difference between the candidates/groups of candidates with the two highest numbers of votes, the Returning Officer will declare the candidate/group of candidates with the highest number of votes to be elected. The Returning Officer will announce the result of the election and declare the candidate/group of candidates elected via the mass media.

If the total number of overseas voters entitled to vote at the election is equal to or more than the difference between the candidates/groups of candidates with the two highest numbers of votes, then the Returning Officer will announce the votes cast locally for each candidate/group of candidates, and the date and venue at which the ballot papers cast overseas will be counted.

	PARKING AND SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS

Candidates are reminded that no parking will be allowed at counting centres and principal counting centres unless the vehicle has the appropriate label issued by the Elections Department. Police will put in place security measures in and around counting centres and the principal counting centres. Candidates, election agents/principal election agents and counting agents are advised not to bring sharp object(s), flammable liquids or gas, bulky items or big bags into the counting centre and principal counting centres.

	ELECTION PASSES

Candidates, election agents/principal election agents and counting agents may keep their election passes after the election is over.

Candidates and counting agents must wear their election passes at all times. Candidates and their counting agents may observe the counting process from behind the yellow demarcation line. However, they should not interfere with the counting process. They should not attempt to read the number printed on the back of a ballot paper, as doing so constitutes an offence.

For the pre-count examination of postal voting papers, before disallowing any postal voting papers from counting, the Assistant Returning Officer at each counting place will show the return envelope without opening it, to candidates and their counting agents (if present). Candidates and counting agents may give their views on the return envelope in question, but the decision of the Assistant Returning Officer as to whether to disallow any postal voting papers from counting is final.

Before rejecting a ballot paper which is unmarked or does not show clearly the intention of the voter, the Assistant Returning Officer at each counting place will show the ballot paper to candidates and their counting agents (if present). Candidates and counting agents may give their views on the ballot paper in question, but the decision of the Assistant Returning Officer on the validity of the ballot paper is final. When all the ballot papers at the counting place have been counted, the Assistant Returning Officer will announce the result over the table.

After the Returning Officer declares that a candidate/group of candidates is duly elected, or declares the number of votes cast in Singapore in favour of each candidate/group of candidates (together with the date and venue at which the overseas votes will be counted), the ballot papers and other election materials will be sealed up in depository boxes. Candidates and their counting agents may affix their seals or sign on these boxes, if they so desire. But they should be careful not to paste over the Returning Officer’s seals or damage the Returning Officer’s seals in the process.

The use of handphones, video and photo-taking devices in the hall where counting takes place is prohibited to safeguard the secrecy of the vote. Candidates and their counting agents may however use their devices outside the hall. Smoking is not allowed in counting centres or the principal counting centre.