COVID-19: Singapore draws up contingency plans for safe general election
Bernama
June 8, 2020 19:15 MYT
June 8, 2020 19:15 MYT
The Singapore Elections Department has drawn up contingency plans to ensure that the General Election, due to be held by April 2021, can be conducted safely even if the COVID-19 situation persists until then.
The Singapore Elections Department (ELD) has drawn up contingency plans to ensure that the General Election, due to be held by April 2021, can be conducted safely even if the COVID-19 situation persists until then.
At a virtual technical briefing today, the department said these measures would protect the health and safety of voters, candidates and election officials throughout the nomination and polling proceedings.
In drawing up the measures, ELD said it would abide by the existing Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines on safe distancing and safe management of people, which also applied to campaigning activities that include physical rallies, walkabouts and house-to-house visits.
“As these activities involve large group gatherings, the guidelines will depend on the COVID-19 situation at the time,” ELD said, adding that it would share the guidelines at a later date.
Should prevailing health advisories restrict large group activities, ELD will ensure that voters have access to the campaign messages of all political parties and candidates.
“This may include additional TV broadcast time for candidates and political parties,” it said.
As in previous elections, ELD said campaign activities on the Internet could continue in accordance with guidelines for such activities.
ELD will put in place measures to ensure the safe and smooth process of nomination and polling proceedings that include temperature screening; utilising the SafeEntry app to check-in/out for contact tracing; as well as enforcing safe distancing at all times.
As for reducing potential over-crowding at polling stations, ELD will increase the number of polling stations from 880 to 1,100, with the number of voters per station reduced from an average of 3,000 to 2,400.
In the lead-up to polling day, ELD said it would reach out to voters through various communication channels in the four official languages to reassure them that it is safe to vote in an election held during the COVID-19 situation. - BERNAMA