Gerald Giam on presidential and parliamentary elections amendment bills

What kind of election activities are allowed during the period from the date the Writ of Election is issued to Nomination Day? For instance, can former MPs hold Meet-the-People Sessions, interact with residents and provide assistance to them? Do the appointments of grassroots advisors cease; if not, given that the People’s Association almost always appoints PAP members as grassroots advisors, would allowing them to operate as normal circumvent the restrictions on election candidates and create an uneven playing field for the opposition? Why does the candidates’ election handbook for GE2020 indicate that some types of campaigning such as walkabouts, house visits and distribution of collateral are allowed, but this is not reflected in the Parliamentary Elections Act? These questions were raised by MP Gerald Giam in Parliament on Monday (Mar 6). He also noted that people with disabilities who wish to vote can only be assisted by an election official who will mark the ballot paper as directed and is under oath to keep the vote secret. Mr Giam said this is a reservation placed by the Government on an article in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which Singapore has ratified. He asked if the Government has considered the possibility that some people with disabilities would prefer to have someone they know and trust to help them to vote.