“Pritam Singh Explores Mail-In Voting Trial for Upcoming Presidential Election “

SINGAPORE: In a Facebook post on May 21, Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh discussed the implications of recent amendments to the Presidential and Parliamentary Election Acts, which now include provisions for postal voting. He suggested that the upcoming presidential election could serve as a “dry run” for mail-in voting, potentially paving the way for its use in parliamentary elections in the future.

However, Singh expressed skepticism about the necessity of this change, noting that many presidential elections in Singapore have resulted in walkovers, raising questions about the need for an electoral mandate.

On March 6, Parliament approved amendments to allow eligible voters overseas to mail in their votes. Singh acknowledged that the exact number of Singaporeans living abroad who are eligible to vote is unclear, but estimates suggest there are over 200,000 Singaporeans overseas.

His remarks were prompted by a conversation with a Singaporean expatriate living in Sydney, Australia, whom he met while participating in the Workers’ Party’s Hammer Outreach program at hawker centres in New Upper Changi Road and Bedok South.

Singh recognized the uncertain political impact of overseas voters on parliamentary elections but emphasized that these votes could be crucial in closely contested constituencies. He critiqued the political system in Singapore, suggesting it is designed to favor the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), citing the frequent alteration of electoral boundaries as an example.

The Leader of the Opposition affirmed that the Workers’ Party and other opposition parties strive to maintain a contestable political environment, advocating for a more balanced representation of Singapore’s political diversity in Parliament. He urged overseas Singaporeans to verify their registration on the Register of Electors to ensure their voices are heard, stating, “Every vote matters!”