Early notice of GE would be in voters’ interests
I agree with People’s Action Party (PAP) organising secretary Ng Eng Hen that it is better to tell residents up front who is standing in their constituencies (“S’pore now in election season, says Ng Eng Hen”; Aug 11).
As he said, “They can make intelligent choices after examining whomever the political parties are (sending), who can better serve them”. However, voters need to learn about all the choices, including the Opposition, and not only the PAP candidates.
And as opposition parties do not know the relevant dates of the dissolution of Parliament, Nomination Day or Polling Day, they may not be able to offer as much timely information as voters might wish.
It would benefit voters if the Prime Minister could announce the relevant dates well in advance, for this and subsequent general elections. In most mature democracies, voters have more notice than we do, as many countries have fixed-term polls.
Even the United Kingdom, from which we inherit our parliamentary traditions, passed the Fixed-term Parliaments Act in 2011, which provides for a general election every five years.
In New Zealand, a parliamentary democracy without fixed-term polls, and with a population size comparable to ours, last year’s election was announced six months ahead.
If Polling Day were announced a few months in advance, voters would have adequate time to think through important issues, consider the quality of the candidates and listen to what the various political parties have to say.
An early announcement would also give overseas voters who wish to return to vote more time to make travel arrangements. And resident voters with travel plans could more easily arrange them to ensure they are in Singapore on Polling Day.
Overall, it is in voters’ interests to be better informed through early notice of a general election.
