Over 150,000 voters did not turn up for 2011 General Election: DPM Teo

SINGAPORE: The names of 150,729 voters were taken off the register of electors for not turning up to vote in the 2011 General Election, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Monday.

The number is more than twice the number of the 72,881 non-voters at the 2006 elections.

Mr Teo was responding in Parliament to Aljunied GRC MP Chen Show Mao, who asked for the demographic breakdown of non-voters, including their age, gender and ethnic groups.

"I'm asking for numbers that tell us how many Singaporeans do not have their names on the electoral register. It should be a simple number to provide because it's a group of Singaporeans that we should encourage and assist to vote in the spirit of an inclusive society," Mr Chen said.

While Mr Teo could reveal the number of names taken off the register of electors after each election, he said he "did not have the number of persons whose names may for some reason or other not be on the registers of electors".

"I can't imagine the numbers are very high, for those who wish to have their names on the register of electors they're always free to do so," he said. "And as I said, if Mr Chen actually comes across any such person, please encourage them to put their names on the register of electors."

Mr Teo said non-voters can come forward to restore their names to the register at any time, and that the majority had a valid reason for not voting, like being overseas or on medical leave.

Those who do not have a valid reason would have to pay S$50 to reinstate their names.

Mr Teo also said the Elections Department has not come across anyone seeking to waive the penalty because of low income.

Some 60,000 voters had their names restored to the register between the 2006 and 2011 elections.