PE 2023: ELD advises public to vote later in the day amid morning queue 'build-up', e-registration system glitches
SINGAPORE — The Elections Department Singapore (ELD) has advised voters to head to polling stations later in the day to cast their votes for the Presidential Election, amid glitches with the e-registration system and long waiting times at some centres on Friday (Sept 1).
In a statement at 8.40am, ELD said that there was a "queue build-up" at some polling stations across the island when they first opened at 8am.
It advised the public to cast their votes at a later time.
"As voting will last until 8pm, we advise voters to arrive at the polling station later in the day, especially in the afternoon when the queues are usually shorter," ELD said.
"We seek voters’ patience and understanding as we clear the morning queue."
In another statement at 9.55am, the agency said that the queue situation had improved at most polling stations.
"The technical issues with the e-registration system are progressively being resolved. Voters are still encouraged to go out to vote throughout the day," it added.
In an update on the voter turnout on Friday, ELD said that as at 5pm, 2,302,996 Singaporeans had cast their votes. This accounted for 85 per cent of the total number of eligible electors.
"Voters who have yet to vote are advised to cater sufficient time to cast their votes before the close of polls at 8pm."
Earlier at 3pm, the proportion of those who had cast their votes was 74 per cent, or 2,004,961 Singaporeans.
"Voting is proceeding smoothly, with only a handful of the 1,264 polling stations with short queues," ELD said at the time.
At noon, about 52 per cent, or 1,406,182 Singaporeans had turned up to cast their votes in the first four hours of polling.
TODAY was at two polling stations at Waterway Primary School in Punggol, and at Block 63 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh to observe the queue situation.
At the polling station at Waterway Primary School, lines began forming outside the centre as early as 7.45am, with voters having to queue to enter the school gates at around 8.30am.
Queues began easing up at about 9am.
The voting centre in Toa Payoh also saw queues winding down at about 9.20am.
The three candidates for the 2023 Presidential Election are Mr Ng Kok Song, former chief investment officer of sovereign wealth fund GIC, former Cabinet minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Mr Tan Kin Lian, former chief executive officer of NTUC Income insurance cooperative.
