Electoral Boundaries Review Committee
What is the role of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee?
The role of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee is to determine the electoral boundaries for use at future elections taking into account population shifts and new housing developments. In performing its role, the Committee does not examine the results of past elections. It also does not take into account the profile of voters who may be affected by the new boundaries.
Why is the review of electoral boundaries not conducted earlier so that there is clarity on the electoral map earlier?
The electoral boundaries are generally reviewed just before each General Election, so that we have an updated set of electoral boundaries for use at the General Election.
What is the composition of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee and what is its roles?
The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee recommends the electoral boundaries for use at future elections taking into account population shifts and new housing developments.
The Committee comprises senior civil servants who are the experts in these technical areas:
The Committee comprises senior civil servants who are the experts in these technical areas:
- Secretary to Prime Minister (Chairperson)
- Chief Executive Officer
Housing & Development Board (Member) - Chief Executive
Singapore Land Authority (Member) - Chief Statistician
Department of Statistics (Member) - Head
Elections Department (Secretary)
What are the terms of reference of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee?
You can find the terms of reference of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee in their reports here.
Will candidates and political parties be given sufficient time to make their preparations for elections after the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report?
As with past elections, there will be sufficient time, from when the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s review report is made public to the time of the election, for candidates and political parties to make their preparations.
Where can I find the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s reports?
You can find the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s reports here.
Where can I view the electoral boundaries?
You can view the electoral boundaries on OneMap (by turning on the Hybrid Map function).
How do I check my electoral division?
You can check your electoral division using your postal code here.
Election Equipment
e-Registration
Why is e-Registration being introduced?
The current registration procedure requires election officials to manually search for and strike off the voter’s name from the hard copy Polling Station Register (PSR). In the new electronic voter registration process, the election official will now scan the NRIC of the voter to register the voter. This is similar to how patients at polyclinics or hospitals scan their NRIC to register. e-Registration will increase convenience for the voter. Voters will experience a shorter waiting time.
Is voting secret? How is voting secrecy assured, if e-Registration allows real-time updates on who has voted? What are the steps taken to ensure that voters’ votes remain secret?
The e-Registration procedure is only to register a voter by updating his record in the electronic copy of the Polling Station Register.
After he has been registered, he proceeds to a different counter to be issued a ballot paper. He can choose the counter from which he would like to obtain the ballot paper.
He then goes to a booth of his choice to mark his ballot paper. After he has marked his ballot paper, he can drop it in any ballot box of his choice within the polling station.
With these various steps, voting continues to remain secret even with e-Registration.
After he has been registered, he proceeds to a different counter to be issued a ballot paper. He can choose the counter from which he would like to obtain the ballot paper.
He then goes to a booth of his choice to mark his ballot paper. After he has marked his ballot paper, he can drop it in any ballot box of his choice within the polling station.
With these various steps, voting continues to remain secret even with e-Registration.
What information is being linked to the voter’s NRIC when it is scanned? How long is this information being kept for?
The system will register the voter’s name and NRIC number (by marking the electronic copy of the Polling Station Register that the voter had registered successfully). This is similar to crossing the voter’s particulars in the hardcopy Polling Station Register. The electronic copy of the Polling Station Register will be kept for a period of 6 months before being securely erased.
Can other forms of identification, e.g. driver’s license, be used to scan as well? What if the voter has lost their NRIC?
The approved documents for use at polling stations to authenticate a voter’s identity are original or digital NRIC (or identity cards; issued by Ministry of Defence, Singapore Police Force or Singapore Civil Defence Force for uniformed personnel) or passport.
If a voter brings his passport, the election official will manually key his NRIC number into the e-Registration system.
If a voter brings his passport, the election official will manually key his NRIC number into the e-Registration system.
Prototype Polling Booth
What are the key benefits of using the prototype polling booths?
The prototype polling booth is designed to provide better privacy. It is also designed with easy storage, transportation and deployment in mind.
Can a voter in a wheelchair use the prototype polling booth?
Yes, a voter in a wheelchair can use the prototype polling booth.
Any plan to use the prototype polling booth in the coming general election?
The plan is to pilot this prototype booth at some polling stations in the coming general election, and gather feedback for further refinements.
Counting Machine
Why are counting machines being used?
The use of counting machines will speed up the counting process and reduce the number of officers needed for counting. It will also allow the voting results to be made known earlier.
How will the counting machines affect the current counting process?
There will be no change to the manual process of unfolding and sorting of ballot papers into the different piles of candidates/groups of candidates as well as the adjudication of ballot papers where the voter’s choice is unclear. These processes will continue to be done manually. Subsequently, two election officials will use the counting machines to count and verify the sorted ballot papers using two separate counting machines.
Will the sample count and final results be out earlier with the use of the counting machines?
While we do not expect significant improvement to the time of announcement for sample count due to the small sample size, we expect the time taken for the counting of all votes to be reduced and the announcement of election results to be earlier.
Why is electronic counting not implemented?
ELD has studied the feasibility of electronic counting. Electronic counting has various challenges like difficulties in adjudication of unclear ballot papers, transparency in counting and ensuring voting secrecy. In addition, there are system reliability issues and security risks, such as vulnerability to hacking and cyber-attacks.
For now, manual counting of marked ballot papers at counting centres is still the simplest and most transparent method that can ensure the integrity and secrecy of our voting process.
For now, manual counting of marked ballot papers at counting centres is still the simplest and most transparent method that can ensure the integrity and secrecy of our voting process.
Self-inking ‘X’ Stamp
Why use self-inking ‘X’ stamp and how will the self-inking stamp affect the current voting process?
The self-inking stamp allows voters to indicate their choice of votes clearly and easily.
Instead of using a ballpoint pen, a voter will use the self-inking stamp provided at the polling booths to mark his choice in the empty box on the ballot paper corresponding to his choice of candidate/group of candidates.
Please note that any mark outside the boxes will be disregarded. As such, voters should ensure that he marks an “X” in the box for the candidate/group of candidates of his choice. There are no other changes to the voting process.
What if the voter did not indicate a clear mark on ballot paper?
Unclear ballot papers will be adjudicated by the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO). The use of the self-inking stamp will reduce the incidence of unclear marks on ballot papers.
What happens if the self-inking stamp runs out of ink during polling hours? Will my vote be invalid if I marked the ballot paper using my own pen?
In the unlikely event that the self-inking stamp runs out of ink, the Presiding Officer (PO) will replace with a new self-inking stamp. ELD will deploy sufficient spare self-inking stamps to polling stations.
You are encouraged to use the self-inking stamp to mark your choice of vote. Your vote will still be valid if you marked the ballot paper using your own pen.
You are encouraged to use the self-inking stamp to mark your choice of vote. Your vote will still be valid if you marked the ballot paper using your own pen.
If my family member is physically weak and have difficulty using the self-inking stamp, can I help my family member to cast the vote?
You will not be able to assist your family member to preserve the secrecy of the vote. Instead, the voter may seek the help of the Presiding Officer to assist in marking the ballot paper. Presiding Officers are bounded by the oath of secrecy and will not divulge the vote.