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Sylvia Lim on presidential and parliamentary elections amendment bills

10:40 Min

The Workers’ Party welcomes - in principle - proposed changes to enable more Singaporeans overseas and in nursing homes to cast their votes in national elections, said MP Sylvia Lim in Parliament on Monday (Mar 6). For Singaporeans abroad, this will involve postal voting. As far as nursing homes are concerned, Ms Lim raised several issues. She asked how the Elections Department will determine that voters in nursing homes have the necessary mental capacity to cast their votes, how the integrity of the bedside voting process will be ensured - for instance, randomness in the allocation of the ballot paper and privacy when the vote is marked and cast - and whether polling agents from political parties will be admitted to nursing homes to safeguard the voting process. On expanding methods of vote-counting, Ms Lim asked what is meant by “electronic means” - does it involve connection to the Internet or use of online services? If so, this could potentially expose the vote count to hacking and glitches. Finally, Ms Lim questioned proposed changes to election advertising. Saying the buck stops at the candidate and political party, she wanted to know why the identities of campaign staff and marketing firms will have to be published in certain scenarios. On banners, flags and posters only being allowed in “permissible locations”, she asked how this will differ from past elections and what assurance candidates and parties have that there will be adequate space in prime locations.

The Workers’ Party welcomes - in principle - proposed changes to enable more Singaporeans overseas and in nursing homes to cast their votes in national elections, said MP Sylvia Lim in Parliament on Monday (Mar 6). For Singaporeans abroad, this will involve postal voting. As far as nursing homes are concerned, Ms Lim raised several issues. She asked how the Elections Department will determine that voters in nursing homes have the necessary mental capacity to cast their votes, how the integrity of the bedside voting process will be ensured - for instance, randomness in the allocation of the ballot paper and privacy when the vote is marked and cast - and whether polling agents from political parties will be admitted to nursing homes to safeguard the voting process. On expanding methods of vote-counting, Ms Lim asked what is meant by “electronic means” - does it involve connection to the Internet or use of online services? If so, this could potentially expose the vote count to hacking and glitches. Finally, Ms Lim questioned proposed changes to election advertising. Saying the buck stops at the candidate and political party, she wanted to know why the identities of campaign staff and marketing firms will have to be published in certain scenarios. On banners, flags and posters only being allowed in “permissible locations”, she asked how this will differ from past elections and what assurance candidates and parties have that there will be adequate space in prime locations.

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