In a nation known for its meticulous attention to detail and organizational prowess, the Election Department of Singapore (ELD) recent blunders in the Presidential Election of 2023 have shattered the facade of competence.
According to ELD’s website:
The Elections Department of Singapore (ELD) is a department under the Prime Minister’s Office. It has the responsibility of preparing for and managing the conduct of Presidential and Parliamentary elections and any national referendum in Singapore. The Department has under its purview the Registry of Political Donations (RPD). The RPD administers the Political Donations Act, the objective of which is to prevent foreign interference in the domestic politics of Singapore through funding.
ELD’s work extends beyond the period of elections. Between elections, ELD must ensure that the Registers of Electors are up to date, so as to be ready for any election called at any time. Its other responsibilities include:
- Training of election officials
- Maintaining and updating the Registers of Electors
- Planning for election manpower, premises, logistical and other related requirements for the conduct of elections
- Informing the public about the electoral system and voting processes
- Ensuring all electors have access to the electoral system and voting processes
- Administering the Political Donations Act and campaign spending rules
- Providing secretariat support to any appointed committee responsible for recommending changes to electoral boundaries and election committees such as the Presidential Elections Committee and Community Committee
The 2023 Presidential Election: A Catalogue of Errors
The 2023 Presidential Election in Singapore was marred by a catalogue of errors
- In a startling display of incompetence, more than 4,800 households in Tanjong Pagar have been thrust into chaos as the upcoming presidential election approaches. The Elections Department (ELD) has laid the blame squarely on the doorstep of a designated printer, Toppan, for the pandemonium that ensued.
Within this colossal mix-up, a staggering 9,354 individuals were left clutching not one, but two poll cards, each distinguished by distinct voter serial numbers. And if that weren’t enough, an additional 468 voters were treated to the ludicrous spectacle of receiving two identical poll cards, a blunder that is not only absurd but deeply concerning in an electoral process that should be characterized by precision and meticulous attention to detail.
- Approximately 200 Singaporeans have taken it upon themselves to inform the authorities, that their names mysteriously vanished from the Registers of Electors, despite their active participation in the 2020 General Election, as confirmed by the Elections Department (ELD) on Thursday.
Upon conducting preliminary checks, it was shockingly discovered that their National Registration Identity Cards (NRICs) appeared to have suffered the misfortune of not being adequately scanned by the electronic registration devices deployed at polling stations during the 2020 election.
This alarming oversight led to a baffling scenario where voter attendance data, essential to the integrity of the electoral process, was inexplicably omitted from the system, as casually explained by the ELD in a statement. Such negligence raises grave concerns about the competence and attention to detail exhibited by the Election Department.
- Yet another instance of sheer negligence and poor planning reared its ugly head during the Presidential Election. The Elections Department (ELD), seemingly oblivious to the basic principle of convenience in voting, misallocated polling stations for residents in the MacPherson neighborhood, forcing them to embark on an unnecessary trek to cast their votes while closer polling stations remained unutilized.
The ELD’s response to this blatant disregard for voter convenience was nothing short of a slapdash attempt to save face. After receiving feedback about the absurdity of their initial allocation, they issued new poll cards to some residents in the MacPherson neighborhood, effectively admitting that they had needlessly inconvenienced voters by placing polling stations at unreasonable distances from their residences. Such disregard for the voters’ convenience only further erodes trust in the competence of the Election Department.
Singapore, a nation often celebrated for its efficiency and governance, has witnessed a shameful display of incompetence by the Election Department in the Presidential Election of 2023. The mishandling of voting cards, the denial of voting rights, and logistical mismanagement have left a stain on the country’s reputation.
For Singapore’s democracy to regain its credibility, the Election Department must undertake significant reforms and take responsibility for these grave errors. The people of Singapore have the right to expect an electoral process that is free from such glaring mistakes and that upholds the principles of democracy with the utmost seriousness. Anything less is a disservice to the nation and its citizens.
