Presidential Election 2023 ballot papers, other documents to be destroyed on Mar 2

SINGAPORE: Ballot papers and other documents used in the 2023 Presidential Election will be destroyed on Mar 2.

This is as stipulated by the law and "to ensure secrecy of the vote", the Elections Department (ELD) said on Monday (Feb 19). 

The documents used in the Sep 1 election last year will be destroyed at the Tuas South Incineration Plant. They will be transported to the plant from the Supreme Court, where they have been kept for the past six months. 

ELD said it will reach out to candidates or their representatives who wish to witness the proceedings.

Under the Presidential Elections Act 1991, ballot papers and other documents used in an election must be sealed and retained "in safe custody" for six months, after which they must be destroyed unless otherwise directed by order of the President.

More than 2.48 million votes were cast in Singapore in its first contested Presidential Election in 12 years, with 50,152 rejected votes, ELD said at the time. 

President Tharman Shanmugam, former Senior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, secured a landslide victory with 70.4 per cent of the vote.

Former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song came in second place with 15.72 per cent, while former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian received 13.88 per cent.