Many Singaporeans harbour the misconception that their vote during elections is not secret. I’ve talked to many people, both educated and less educated, and the overwhelming majority seem to think this way. This is despite the fact that at every election, the Elections Department takes pains to communicate to voters two main points: Voting is compulsory, and voting is secret. I guess this is a point that Singaporeans just refuse to believe our government about.
It is even more unfortunate that some persist in perpetuating this urban myth, which only serves to strike more fear into the hearts of Singaporeans who are thinking of voting for the opposition. A letter in Temasek Review today exhorted Singaporeans to spoil their votes because, the writer reasoned, then the PAP won’t “mark” you for voting against them and if there are enough invalid votes, it will indirectly increase the opposition’s share of the valid vote.
This is wrong on many counts. I’ll highlight just two: Firstly, the PAP does not know which party you voted for, so they won’t know who to “mark”, even if they wanted to. Secondly, invalid votes do not factor in the final count, which is based on valid votes. This means that if there were 10 votes–six for the PAP, three for the opposition and one spoiled–the final tally is 66.6 per cent to the PAP (six divided by nine, with the spoiled vote excluded), not 60 per cent.
Let’s be very clear: YOUR VOTE IS SECRET. I will take you through the whole balloting process to see why:
1. On Polling Day, each voter at the polling station is issued a ballot paper without his name on it. (I’ll talk about the serial numbers later.) He/she marks the ballot paper in a booth out of sight of anyone else. No cameras are permitted in the polling station so there is no way to observe how voters vote. The voter then folds up the paper and drops it in the ballot box. Throughout the day, counting agents from each party are at the polling station to ensure the ballot boxes are not opened.
2. At the close of polling, usually at 8pm on the same day, the ballot boxes are sealed with tamper-proof seals (which are signed over by the candidates) and transported to the Counting Centre.
3. At the Counting Centre, the ballot boxes from the polling stations are unsealed in the presence of the candidates and their assistants and emptied in a common heap. The election officials (who are civil servants) then count the votes in full view of the candidates from all contesting parties, who ensure that the votes are counted properly and the election officials follow all the rules.
4. Immediately after counting, the votes, together with all the relevant records, the stubs of the ballot papers and any unused ballot papers are sealed in the boxes (again with tamper-proof seals) and transported to the Supreme Court vault for storage.
5. Six months later, if there are no disputes over the outcome of the election, the sealed boxes are transported to the incineration plant, where, in the presence of all the candidates (including the losers), the votes and records are completely destroyed by fire.
As you can see from above, at no point are the boxes opened without the candidates or representatives from all the contesting parties being present.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What about the serial numbers on the ballot papers?
This is a safeguard against election fraud such as bringing counterfeit ballot papers into the polling station, voter impersonation or casting ballot papers which have been marked by others. Many other countries, including the UK, have numbered ballot papers. As explained above, there is no opportunity for the election officials or candidates to peek at the votes and match them against the electoral roll. Remember there are no names on the voting slips, and if one wanted to match the serial numbers, one would have to sift through a huge list of thousands of voters in full view of the candidates.
It is possible, though, that in the event of a disputed outcome, the courts could order that the boxes be taken out of storage and the votes recounted. However this would again be done in full view of the candidates. In any case, there has been no court order issued to retrieve votes since Singapore first conducted elections in 1948.
Q. Why does the election official call out my name and voter number at the polling station before giving me the ballot paper?
So as to enable the representatives of contesting political parties at the polling station to verify and cross out your name on their copies of the electoral register. They will know you voted, but won’t know who you voted for.
Q. After elections, some politicians say certain blocks supported the ruling party or opposition. Does it mean they know my vote?
Nobody knows how each individual voted. Each polling station serves about 10 to 20 blocks of flats or a few landed housing estates. They may know the aggregated number from each polling district, but not the individual votes.
—–
In summary, I emphasise again that voting is secret. So come the next elections, vote with your conscience, not with fear!
Well, maybe to trace it all back to the very beginning, perhaps there’s some bad eggs spreading these rumours around to instill fear so that we vote for PAP. I’ve heard stories too, like how a mother can’t enroll her kid into PCF because the secretary told her her daughter cant be in school as she had voted for the opposition in 2006 GE. You see, when a story is told to B, B will tweak it to C and C will tweak it even more to DEFGHI.. So what we get at the end of day is a twisted story that isnt factual anymore.
So for my elders and those who still believe in this myth, please please vote for what you think is right/want not because of fear.
My best friend’s mum had received a called after the last election and was ask to do a survey and the survey was why your whole family vote for opposition party…. How come they know if the voting is secret? But don’t afraid to vote for your favour party.
@Someone. Perhaps they did profiling based on the general vote count across blocks or it was just a random survey? And I really don’t think the PAP or govt would conduct surveys like that. They won’t have the time to sift thru all the voting slips to single out who voted for who anyway. I won’t even know who my family members voted for unless they choose to tell me. =))
i remembered the last time i voted, the person at the desk recorded my voting slip serial onto the namelist beside my name. So if the vote is secret why do that? wouldn’t they be able to track who i voted for by matching my slip to the serial on the list?
There is a loophole. From the time which the boxes are stored till they are sent to the incineration plant, who is to ensure that no one sees the votes? The signature on the tamper proof tape can easily be forged.
Let’s just sidestep a bit, and _assume_ that our votes _can_ be traced.
Let’s just assume that some unlucky ones _might_ have been singled out for discrimination out of the many so as to not arouse suspicion.
With these assumptions, all I can say is, “So?”
Think about it, if the votes are counted fairly, and people vote according to what they really want to, despite this knowledge drilling fear into them, which party/parties would be the majority instead truly?
Think about it. Assuming that most voters went for the opposition parties. Assuming that the counts were done fairly. Would PAP, the one whom so many people fear of executing the trace and discrimination supposed myth, still be in full ruling power to exert such supposed ostracization on the ones who voted against them, without obvious noticing?
Think about it. Everyone. Please. Just vote with honesty, and not fear. I’ve already seen and heard a few brainwashed people in my office mongering fear around the place that I’m about to snap and scream in their faces.
Just my 2.14 cents before another GST hike.
does all candidates witness the movement of the boxes to the so called storage room? how can anyone ensure nobody access the room? 6 mths period is enough for tracing to be done. with the technology now how is it not possible to even x-ray thru the boxes?
In anyway do not fear on who you voted for. vote for who you think can make the improvements and lead us in the next 5 years. what would be more relavent, a 50% vs 50% in the parliament or 90% vs 10%. unless you trust that the ruling gov is hearing the people voices and making the right and best choice for both the country and people. then no fight is needed.
rather b safe, just vote foR PAP and stay relaxed, nvm Singapore will still accelerate .
Y b stupid voting for opposition and stay in fear
@misrt. Yeah Singapore will accelerate but many others might be left behind too. =(( Why should anyone stay in fear for exercising their right as a citizen to choose the candidates who they want to serve and represent them in parliament? We are given this right by the law and the ruling party will not break its own laws.
The same allegations have been made about the UK electoral process for years. The fact of the mater is that serial numbers are currently the best way to ensure no fraud, but at the same time they do require us to trust in the officials.
It is entirely possible that this system COULD be abused and individual votes discovered, so to argue it couldn’t will probably do little to appease a sceptic. But the fact remains that to do so would require an immense amount of co-ordination and secrecy, and despite any misgivings I may have about Singapore’s political system I have serious doubts that any organisation could so effectively cover something that so many individuals have played a part in monitoring.
It would also require more effort than it is worth – the government already knows which wards didn’t vote for it, so it can make examples of them by keeping them at the back of the queue for regeneration programmes. They also know which blocks were covered by which polling stations, so they will have a rough idea of which areas within each ward supported them, which will inevitably assist them when they redraw electoral boundaries before the next election – a dubious practice, but again one that has been used in the UK as well.
However, to take it right down to the individual vote would require considerable effort and resources for little gain. Taking last election as an example, it has been easy for the Government to penalise the two areas whose majority failed to support them, but it would be so much harder to penalise the roughly third of voters who supported the opposition on an purely individual level. Why? Diversity of areas, for one thing. You cannot build a covered walkway and then tell certain individuals they cannot walk under it. And then there is changeability. Some voters may be hardline PAP or opposition, but there are floating voters out there. As for the suggestions that some individuals have been denied planing permissions, or loans, etc., etc., simply because of how they voted… the sheer mechanics of creating that kind of conspiracy against individual members of the populace make that an incredible flight of fancy.
So, whoever you vote for, vote without fear… and vote for who YOU believe in!
I’m very skeptical of that statement. I have a someone I know who is a PAP volunteer…this person volunteers at “Meet the MP” sessions occasionally. She herself has confessed that PAP does know who u voted for coz when people come to meet the MP for assistance…the volunteers check the system to see who he or she had voted for. They take down ur concerns in writing as per normal…tell u they’ll send u a letter from the MP to help u in whatever u need assistance in….but as soon as u walk out of the door….the crush the paper n throw it away. I thot maybe it could not be true. But then another person also told me the same thing who is from a totally different set of people I know. How could it be that 2 separate groups of people talking about the same thing? My wife had experienced the same thing. She had went to the MP for help for a job. She was told that they’ll send her a letter from the MP…..that was almost 2 yrs ago…the letter never came. My wife had voted for the Opposition.
I brought my mother n father-in-laws to meet the MP session also…I assumed both had voted for PAP as my father-in-law was a ardent PAP supporter. At the RC center a volunteer took their ICs n checked something in their system then we were attended by the volunteer…a Chinese man…there was another Indian man standing behind this volunteer….both of them behind their counter. The Chinese volunteer…named “Junior” started to show that he was not too happy with us being there….he grew increasingly impatient with us. We were there to ask that the MP help my In-Laws get the CPF Additional Housing Grant…but we were ridiculed by him n the Indian man saying that there was no such thing as Additional Housing Grant! Junior started being very rude with us so I told him off. He told me to complain to the MP if I dare…he challenged me to complain to the MP. I left the place wondering…y? What caused them to react like this? That was also about 2yrs ago. I was just talking to my wife yesterday about the 2011 elections n she just mentioned that my mother-in-law always voted for the opposition. So then finally I realized y the PAP volunteer reacted the way he did 2 yrs ago. But all that said n done Gerald….Me n my family r never one’s to fear the knock on our door at midnite. We will vote with our heart n mind. We will vote for the check n balance as we have always done. Cheers!
Replying to
misrt Says: “April 29th, 2011 at 3:08 AM
rather b safe, just vote foR PAP and stay relaxed, nvm Singapore will still accelerate .
Y b stupid voting for opposition and stay in fear”
Really unsure of your purpose or your agenda for this comment or if you truly believe what you say.
Our vote is the only real power and this is guaranteed by the constitution. Even the PAP will tell you that your vote IS secret.
If everyone is to vote just to stay safe and “save your ass” than Singapore will NEVER progress! We will only perpetuate the status quo and any party in such a situation will fall into a sense of complacency and believe that they have become “almighty” and forgot the real purpose of their political office, which is to serve the people. In fact, do you not see this happening already?
The PAP has been lulled into complacency and a “false reality” because of the way the PAP is run. The PAP has many “smart” people in it but does that make any difference? The answer is NO because they have all been silenced by the Party Whip! No point crying after the fact, when decisions are made or more like, decisions are swept through. And who do you think are making all the decisions? Are decisions made by all members of PAP? Is there true consensus or are PAP members merely playing the politicking to further each selfish interests? If all the team members in an organisation are only thinking of policies and decisions that will PLEASE the LEADER, then are these policies designed for the PEOPLE?
Also, the PAP is surrounded by yes men and women who do not dare to be different and speak the truth! They would only say what the leaders want to hear. Look at the mass media and the PAP slant. Do you notice the numerous news that things are improving and the economy is “doing well”, Very convenient timing indeed. So the almight leaders are in a false reality, thinking that everything is well and peaceful. Do you think anyone feedback to the PAP LEADERs that the overcrowding situation in MRTs has become unacceptable?! If this feedback was given and the PAP leaders really listened, i believe they wont be in the hot soup that they are in now.
Therefore, what is realy important is for each and every citizen to exercise your vote with your conscience, for what you truly believe in. If you believe that the PAP can STILL do a good job for you, then vote PAP BUT if you believe that there is a need for greater accountability, then vote for the party that you believe would make this happen because as the PAP in my view can no longer do the job no matter what talent they bring in because their whole organisation has become “diseased”. I wont trust the future of Singapore to an organisation that has fallen into Group Think and is in their own false reality.
Wake up Singaporeans. Your vote is secret. Vote with Your Conscience. Vote for what you truly believe in. For the good of our future. Your vote is the only time that you are truly heard. Do not worry if you are a civil servant, TLC employee or even if you work in the PM office (such as our election officials), if you dare to do what is right and righteous, who can pin you down?! Spread the word around to all who may still think that our votes can be tracked and we will face repurcussions. This is false. Also, speak to all who think that the middle ground is to cast a spolit vote. This is also a defeatist attitude. A spolit vote is not considered a valid vote and not counted to determine the percentage win. Therefore, casting a spoilt vote is basically helping the incumbent.
Stand up Singaporeans and be counted. Our opposition candidates have shown great mettle and conviction. Look at Nicole Seah. Maturity is never a factor of age. Her maturity, conviction and courage put many Singaporeans to shame. If she has the courage to stand up and voice our the true feelings of Singaporeans about the PAP using OUR money to further their own selfish interests, what are we to fear how we vote?!
Vote for a better Singapore at this GE. The whole political system needs to be transformed to bring Singapore to the next level where Singaporeans truly matter and where the democratic process is truly fair and where there is accountability not just in Parliament but for the decisions made by our investments companies.
Vote with your conscience. Vote for a better Singapore where the government is truly accountable to the people. Together, we can truly make a difference at this GE.
Replying Roy Lee :
I salute you and your family for being bold. In fact, there is nothing to fear.
I suggest that you do not spread hearsay that even you do not believe in. Spreading unconfirmed rumours will only cause the meek to be more fearful. True leaders DO NOT lead by fear BUT by a great vision, by truth and by fairness.
Even IF what you say is true, do we allow oourselves to be cowed into subservience? Are politicians elected to serve their own interests? If so, we are really no different from the other corrupt countries in the world. Social injustices should be righted. We are the voice. The “younger” generation has better education and We should be more rationale in our analysis and thought processes. Therefore, it is our duty to dispel such myths, because such myths will return the PAP to power when the true support on the ground is weak.
Therefore, i implore all Singaporeans eligible to vote. I implore you to vote with your conscience. Vote for the party that you TRULY believe in, be it the PAP, WP, SDP, NSP, SPP. In fact, i have signed up as a polling agent with WP. What is there to fear. I want to be there to witness that the polling process is conducted fairly!
There are not many 5 years for you to vote. Even if you were eligible to vote in the past, your consituency might have had a walk over. So where is your say? So are you going to give up YOUR precious vote at this GE by voting by “default”? Please consider carefully as your decision will affect your lives, the lives of your children and our joint future. We are all in the same boat or car(if you prefer). Dont worry that the opposition parties wont be able to do a good job because the status quo has become so unacceptable that good people, including top civil servants, are ready to step up and contribute to our nation.
Vote with your conscience on 7 May 11. Vote with courage. Spread the word that your vote is indeed secret. Dispel such fears and myths. Let this election really show the support for each party! Together, we can truly make a difference for a better future for all Singaporeans! Majulah Singapura!
THE VOTE COUNTER CAN STILL SEE YOUR NAME. if you are prominent (say jack neo), they will instantly recognise who you are and know who you vote for. where got secret if like that?
Reply to makmak:
Dear makmak, like you, when i first voted in 2006, i was conscious of the serial number on the voting slip and the name on the elector register against the serial number. But let me assure you:
a) the serial number on the voting slip is important to prevent voting fraud.
If there are no serial numbers and i know the design of the voting slip, i could technically print multiple voting slips and slot them into the ballot boxes. Then there will be no distinction on which is a genuine voting slip.
The elector’s register with reference to the voter’s name and serial number of his voting slip is important as a preventive measure and check if ever there is a need to investigate the votes cast when fraud is suspected. Doing this will require a court order and all political parties are present to conduct the investigation. So this is merely a preventive measure and not used to check how each voter voted.
b) no one will know how you vote even if they know who you are because your are voting in private unless you choose to show the world how you voted. In fact, if you were to write or sign your name on the voting slip, the voting slip will be considered invalid because it is “identified”. This is clearly stated in the Elections Department’s website. (http://www.elections.gov.sg/voters_dosdonts.html)
Dear fellow Singaporeans, Stop being bound by fear. Think rationally. Gerald Giam has provided very clear steps of the vote casting, counting, storage and destruction process. Your vote is secret. This is the foundation of any democratic process. I have even volunteered myself already as a polling agent to observe the voting process to ensure it is unbiased at the GE. Do the same if you are indeed fearful. Dont cast your votes out of fear any more. Doing so will be an injustice to our country, our fellow citizens and our opposition candidates who bravely stood up to be a voice for us.
Let your vote count this GE. (You may not have a chance at the next GE when the millions of foreigners receive their red passports!). Vote with your conscience. Vote with courage. Vote for real accountability in Parliament. Accountability for the policies made by the PAP. Accountability for the funds invested by Temasek and the GIC. Accountability for the reserves of our nation, our monies. Vote for a better Singapore and future for ourselves and our children. Only together and without fear, that we can truly make a difference. Majulah Singapura!
ok about the serial number… but can anyone explain why the person who gave the ballot paper write down another set of number? Still clueless…
Of course, wrt to pt 4. “Immediately after counting, the votes, together with all the relevant records, the stubs of the ballot papers and any unused ballot papers are sealed in the boxes (again with tamper-proof seals) and transported to the Supreme Court vault for storage.”
We
1. know the courts are not independent of the govt
2. won’t know if the boxes were really not tampered with (during the 6mths in the vaults) and
3. are aware they are the ones in possession of the ‘tamper-proof’-seals…
4. are very curious as to how the PAP decides on how to redraw the electorial boundaries (if there was a need at all in a fair and free election)?
I believe that during the counting process, those slips that has double cross would have fished out and from the serial number, it reference to the actual voter. Hence it could be why these voters get a letter on the above.
Let’s get our votes in with VALID.
Reply to mark:
Glad you raised these questioned. The ballot boxes are sealed with tamper proof seals (that tear when your try to remove it). Representatives from each party sign on the seal as further evidence that the original seals are intact before the ballot boxes are destroyed. And the respective representatives do inspect the ballot boxes before destruction to ensure that the boxes had not been tampered with.
As to how the PAP unfairly redraw boundary lines and how they comment that there were more Malay supporters at Aljunied at the last election is this. Each constituency is divided into smaller voting districts that vote at a pre-determined polling stations. Therefore, each polling station serves a specific number of blocks. The voting outcome for these voting districts can be known, ie whether this district supported which party more. But remember no body knows how each individual voted but only the outcome for the district is know. And therefore, based on the population profile of the district, politicians can conclude that there are more of a certain group of supporters for example if the demographic or racial profile for the district is prominent. And it is also due to this knowledge that the PAP unfairly removed about 29,000 voters from Aljunied GRC and dispersed them to the nearby constituencies, such as AMK.
Do we want to allow such unfair election tactics to continue? Including denying the opposition to contest merely because the form was submitted 35 seconds late? This is a mockery to our election process. Another mockery of the process is whose rule is it that all forms must be submitted within a hour. The elections office took so long to set up and they “open” only for one hour? What logic is this?!
Let’s arise and make our votes count this election. Dont vote by default or out of fear. Be convinced by asking all questions you may have. Also, spread the word around to all you know because i feel that this unfounded fear is pervasive, especially amongst the older generation (not refering to you Mark :), of course i dont know your age. :))
just curious, even in the election voting video.. you see them write down another number below the serial number for your ballot paper. If the serial number is already in running numbers, why need to write down another set of numbers?
Any assurance that all ballot boxes are empty when votes started to cast? During transportation to counting centre, anyone follow the trucks and how temper proof is it. Curious…
During my time information is limited and we have to depend on newspaper, radio or rumors to make decision before we vote .
Now with google,youtube and all these modern technology i am
very supprised that younger generation are still being misled
by rumors .
I and my older generation friends and relative were misled by rumors that voting is not secret and we voted PAP again and again . What happened ?
I had voted for the Opposition in the 2001 n 2006 elections….I’m still around people. WE HAVE TO DO WHAT IS RITE TO CHANGE OUR OWN FUTURE BCOZ NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!
Am a young adult myself and working in the civil service. I am going to put my words into actions on 7th May. I hope my fellow friends in the same working sector can seriously vote without fear. What is life when you have to live and vote in fear? Stand up for what you believe in please :)
please ignore
I don’t really care if my vote is not secret and I will always support the Worker’s Party. However, after coming across this blog and reading through the comments, my curiosity has been piqued. I must admit I did think our votes are not secret as my mom received a Thank You note from the PAP after the last election when the rest of us in the household did not. She was the only one who voted for the PAP. Could someone explain that?
is there anyone overlooking the transport process. there can be chances that the temper prove boxes be swapped
Misinformed,
WAH your mom so special ah? i voted for PAP last elec but why didnt i receive any THANK YOU letter from the PAP? why nobody else whom i also know voted for them mention about it?
even if it was true, PAP themself had been telling that voting is secret. then why would they give you a THANK YOU letter to slap on their faces?
Terry,
I don’t know why she’s so special but that’s what she told me. That’s why she thinks it’s pure bullshit that our votes are secret.
And of course I agree and wonder why PAP would be so stupid as to send letters of thanks when it would just implicate them. That’s why I’m so confused.
Personally, I don’t care if they know I didn’t vote for them and will never!
Reply Dusty’s query, “dusty Says:
April 29th, 2011 at 1:11 PM
just curious, even in the election voting video.. you see them write down another number below the serial number for your ballot paper. If the serial number is already in running numbers, why need to write down another set of numbers”
An elaboration of the process as you step into the polling station.
Your polling card will state your constituency and the polling station you must go to cast your vote.
When you arrive, you need to produce your NRIC and the polling card you had received through the mail. An official will check against a master record that shows your poll card no and your NRIC details to ensure that you ar entitled to vote.
You will then move on to the next official who will pass you the polling slip (ie the voting slip). This voting slip is from a “receipt book”. The voting slip is serially number and that official will record your poll card number on the counterfoil of the voting slip as a cross reference of your poll card number and the voting slip number because the two serial numbers are different. Therefore, this process creates a reference between your poll card number (ie identifies you) and your voting slip serial number.
Again, please DO NOT be alarmed to think that this means that your vote is not secret. This process is important to ensure accountability of the votes cast if ever there is a need to perform an investigation. This process will also prevent voting fraud. Imagine if voting slips have no serial numbers. There will be no way to know a genuine from a fraudulent voting slip.
Therefore, my fellow Singaporeans, if you still have any doubts, pls speak up and ask and have all your doubts clarified.
This is important as you should vote with your conscience and vote for the party that you truly believe in rather than to vote out of fear.
This is an important milestone in Singapore’s history. Pls vote wisely. Pls vote for the greater good of Singapore. For Singapore’s future. For accountability in Parliament. Together, we can make a difference! Majulah Singapura.
Fear breeds fear. If you fear about voting for opposition today, you would need to fear for heaps of ‘fallen talents’ pressing down your wages, price hikes and inability to pay for the ridiculous flat’s prices tomorrow.
I personally think, PAP has no resource to trace votes in any manner, let alone bother to. Especially in Civil Service, think of it – a small fry won’t threatened their authoritarian management of ministries, so why care who these people support. The top office holders are all their scholars who are hand-picked and scrutinized through interviews. So what is the point to spend resources on tracing votes? If they do, how do they ensure that tracing itself will be a secret forever? If it is leaked, foreign investors is going to lambast their reputation, something they will die for.
They cannot and don’t bother to trace your votes. However, you would need to trace your conscience when one day they completely lord over us and you have voted for them today out of fear.
There is also a new breed of people like me who don’t give a damn who knows who i vote for. Even if the vote is not secret why should it stop you for voting for who you want?
If you say serial number is for security why not just issue the slip with serial number without writing down the number next to the voter IC.
Since every voter have been allocated their designated voting station. there isn’t a need to serialize the voting slip of the voter. They can just issue a balloting slip like a movie entrance ticket after you enter the ticket is being collected half it. Strictly No entrance for spoil/tamper.
Don’t tell me that the slip wont be tally after everything. There is 100 and 1 possibility after everything have ended and “lock up in the vault” unless u are telling me that the vault is having multiple lock that require all to be present before it can be open maybe then i will choose to believe.
I’m not the new breed but I also don’t give a hoot if the vote is not secret as I’ve been exercising my rights to have an alternative voice in parliament for the past 2 decades at least. Can’t say the same for my family members as they too fear like many Singaporeans. This fear speaks volume if the people fears the government? Something is really wrong with the government then or its people???
Urgent appeal to fellow Singaporean voters,
Many of you must be excited over this GE where a record 82 out of 87 seats are being contested. (It may also be the first time that you get to vote because of previous walkovers.) Many of you have also been to the rallies and heard the issues and the agenda of the opposition parties. Many of you are also convinced by the rational arguments put forth by the opposition parties. Many of you are probably also ready to vote for the opposition parties in your constituency.
But are you sure that the opposition will win at this GE when the PAP has the unfair advantage of “extra help” from the mass media, from the grass root organizations, from the unions, from a culture of fear, and from giving out growth dividends at this opportune time (not forgetting where the money for the growth dividends come from). With these unfair advantages and the 3Ks attitude (Kiasu, Kiasi and Kiaboh) of most Singaporeans, are you still sure that the opposition parties will win at this GE despite your own conviction?
Therefore, I appeal to you in 2 areas:
1) We have only a few more days to the GE and to the cooling period on 6 May 11 when the “party propaganda machine” will go into overdrive to “brainwash” the electorate and to create fear in voting opposition into Parliament. Within these critical few days, I sincerely implore you, if you sincerely believe in the opposition cause, to speak up. To speak to your families, your friends, your colleagues, your neighbours, your classmates, and everyone that you know, so that they can also be aware of the issues and the high stake at hand. Implore them to do the same, to also speak to everyone that they know so that word will get around. Other than the social media on the internet, we need to activate the social network on the ground. You will be surprised that your friends and the people you know are unaware of the issues like you or are still living in fear that their vote is not secret. We need to turn the tide. We need to counter the mainstream media influence through our personal influence. A freak election result will be one that runs counter to the general feeling on the ground. Aljunied GRC lost by 6% at the 2006 election despite strong turnouts at WP rallies. What happened? Do we want a repeat of history? Can we afford a repeat of history? WP has featured a strong team for Aljunied GRC but that still does not guarantee their seats in Parliament unless we, the people, act on our beliefs. We need to personally speak up. Spread the word. If WP or the opposition parties do not win sufficient seats at this Parliament, we risk losing Aljunied GRC or other GRCs as a constituency at the next GE as these GRCs may be dissolved and merged with other constituencies. A loss for the opposition at this GE will also dampen the spirit of our noble opposition candidates who have stood up so fearlessly to speak on the people’s behalf.
2) My second appeal to you if you are truly convicted of the opposition cause is to volunteer your time at this GE as a polling or counting agent. This task is basically to act as an observer to ensure that the electoral process is carried out fairly. Because of the large number of seats contested at this GE, there are not sufficient volunteers. Therefore, I implore you to offer yourself to be a volunteer. You can sign up with the respective opposition parties at their websites. There is not much time left. Please do not hesitate and do not fear.
Personally, I have volunteered as a polling agent already and I have made it a personal commitment to spread the word to everyone I know (and sometimes even strangers) and also, to request that those who are convinced of the rational arguments to do the same. The multiplier effect of this social network cannot be underestimated. We cannot presume that the opposition parties will win. Let’s give them all the support that we personally can. It is only a few more days to the GE. Each and every small effort will truly make a difference. I have no personal agenda other than to have accountability in Parliament and for there to be real debate over important issues affecting the lives of Singaporeans. Only through these that we can build a better Singapore for Singaporeans. Please spread this around so that as many as possible can act.
Together, we can truly make a difference. Majulah Singapura. Son of Singapore – Loh Chee Meng
I seriously do not understand the need to scrutinized the election procedure or how the system may be flawed and we will be traced or whatever…. All I know is if it is in the plan to trace you, we will be traced. No method or flawed discussed above will give a trace on how it is done. There can even be ways to know immediately where you crossed on your paper the immediately from today’s technology. I hope I will not be mis understood as spreading fear. What I am thinking is: if you do not even has the guts to expressed what you like or don’t like, whether be it openly or secretly, you are not living at all.
I did not read thru all of the above posted and only some catch my eyes. But if I were to be caught in the situation where I am pin pointed and deprived of some help from the MP I voted against, I will make sure all my descendant and offspring will vote against this MP forever
Similarly If I were to hear such story and get proof of it’s occurrence, I will think of how to remove this kind of sick system then succumb to it and complain silently at the back end.
Finally I also doubt the possibility of tracing the opposition voters and doing things to “warn” them. Such oppositions strength do not appear singlely but at least in the hundreds?? It will be literally impossible to “warn” these people through a single action or policies without people knowing it. Once people know about this, It will only incurr more opposition voice. Which will threaten elections in future.
For me I am more simple. Viewers here may think I am irresponsible voters because I had not attend a single rally or find out what are the policies each party will implement once they are nominated. To me, at this stage, that is “all mouth action” only.
But I only think simply in that:
No change in ways to do it, no change to person doing it, the end result will still be it.
Hence r u happy with “it” ????
Your vote is secret. I’m 100.00000% sure. Even if this is not a secret, so what? Really, so what? If PAP wins 50.1% or 100% in a SMC or GRC, PAP wins. Period. If it tries to deal with the non-supporters, the action is undemocratic, will certainly backfires and the next election outcome will certainly be worse for them. In fact I can only think of the positive. If PAP knows you didn’t vote for them, maybe you will be given more goodies to entice you to vote for them.
What makes sense is getting the data from the 700+ ballot boxes, which allow sectoral analysis and subsequent unfair practice by the ruling party to cut out boundaries.
From the audit point and given the paper trail, it is not impossible to do the tracing. However, it would be onerous and impossible to keep it a secret unless the person doing the tracing is buried alive or bribed to keep his mouth shout!
Fear coupled with ignorance has always held people to ransom. How many people really are brainy and brave? Even highly educated ones want to play safe. Civil servants are not servants of the ruling party. They are servants of Singaporeans. Problem is, their pay comes from the government, and so they become beholden to the ruling party in government. See why soldiers and civil servants in Myanmar are beholden to the ruling junta?
If your vote is not secret, the cat would had been let out of the bag already. Somewhere, sometime, someone involved in breaking the secret would squeal because either his conscience will send him to hell or he becomes disaffected after seeing how he was underpaid and badly made used of while the people he had helped have gone to make profitable gains!
My point is: use your brain, don’t just listen, investigate, talk, ask, discuss, analyse and be courageous.
This GE is over; the PAP is THE government. Let a few Opposition members in because they will not make any dent except noises. So what if they are not proven or capable. This is just hearsay, and I know when people are given the chance, they can rise to the occasion!
I don’t like a House with only one singer. Remember, MPs of ruling party must play the same song, and they are basically CD-players because the CD has already been burned by the party.
It is better to hear a different song, a different voice, a different tune, even if one doesn’t agree or like. We all have limited sight and by looking at another viewpoint, we may gain further insight.
The 6 months in subodinate court is the best time for the PAP to who voted against them.
I have friends who never get their parking summons appealed successfully, who never get their balloting of hdb flat successfully, who never get the help from PAP when they approached them in the ‘meet the people’ session… all because they voted against the PAP…
hey, i’m just wondering. how exactly is the process of counting the votes go about?
singapore politician is the highest paid in the world because
they are comparing to the private corprate .I think this is wrong,if people are willing to step into politics , they must
prepared to sacrifice fo the citizens. Why they don’t compare to other countries politicians
Replying Andy:
Andy Says:
“May 2nd, 2011 at 2:31 PM
The 6 months in subodinate court is the best time for the PAP to who voted against them.
I have friends who never get their parking summons appealed successfully, who never get their balloting of hdb flat successfully, who never get the help from PAP when they approached them in the ‘meet the people’ session… all because they voted against the PAP…”
Reply: The ballot boxes are sealed with tamper proof seals and the officials from all parties present sign on the seal. The sealed and signed boxes are then stored in the supreme court vault for 6 months. If there are complaints of voting irregularity, a court order must be made before the boxes can be removed for checking. If there were no complaints, the boxes are inspected again 6 months later. The same officials check that the seals are original to ensure that the boxes had not been tampered with before the boxes are incinerated.
Therefore, there is no way that anyone could check the votes without this being detected. And I also assure you, the PAP will never do this as the risk of voting fraud being discovered will destroy all the credibility PAP has built all these years and they will be thrown out for sure.
Therefore, let me assure you, the voting process is secure and your vote is secret if you don’t tell anyone how you voted.
As for the friends you mentioned, i can similarly quote examples of friends who voted opposition and got their parking summons waived and other forms of help from the government. Basically, my point is that what you are saying has no relationship to how you have voted. IF your friends insist that they have been discriminated against because of how they voted, i encourage them to make a police report as they are implying that the voting process is fraudulent.
If you agree with me, i suggest that you do not go around spreading information that has not been verified unless you have some other ulterior motives. The unfounded fear over voting secrecy has imprisoned Singaporeans for too long. Many Singaporeans had voted by “default”, particularly our civil servants, TLC, GLC employees. Let me personally assure you that voting is secret. As Dr Vivian Wijeysingha said at the SDP rally on 2 May 11, switched on the light and you will realise that these fears are unfounded. Let the truth and facts set you free.
The stakes are very high for this GE and the fear of voting is one major obstacle that Singaporeans need to overcome. I implore all Singaporean voters to vote with your conscience and with courage. Vote for the party that you TRULY believe in and not out of fear. If you still fear, pls speak up and ask so that your fears can be demolished by the truth. Vote wisely Singaporeans. This GE is critical. Let’s stand united to make Singapore a better place for Singaporeans.
Replying Iylia:
Iylia Says:
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:37 PM
hey, i’m just wondering. how exactly is the process of counting the votes go about?
1. Counting should start only after RO / ARO confirms that all the ballot boxes designated to be counted at that Counting Place have been delivered to him.
2. Only RO / ARO / their assistants and clerks / candidates / counting agents can be present at the counting.
3. RO / ARO are to ensure all ballot boxes open and votes mixed together.
4. During counting, votes should be put face up, so that the numbers behind are not seen.
5. Any invalid votes must be endorsed as `Rejected’. Ground for rejecting votes include ballots where the voters’ intention is uncertain, where the vote is blank or where voter has written something by which he can be identified. Before rejecting any vote, RO / ARO will show candidate / counting agent and ask for views, but his decision is final.
6. Votes should be stacked separately according to which candidate the voters support. After completion, each packet shall be sealed separately with candidates’ names marked thereon.
7. RO/ ARO are to certify the results of poll at their Counting Places, and announce to candidates / counting agents at each Counting Place. If there is more than 1 Counting Place in any electoral division, the ARO should send results to the Principal Counting Place to be added up at constituency level.
Appeal: Therefore, from the above, the counting agents are basically volunteers from the political parties to be present at the count to ensure that the procedures are properly followed. As many seats are contested at this GE, there are not enough volunteers to be polling agent (observer during voting process) and counting agent (observer during counting process).
Therefore, i urge you to volunteer with the opposition parties as a polling and/or counting agent. This act fast as we are running out of time. (Btw, i hv volunteered to be both polling and counting agent already.)
Reply Victor:
VIctor Says:
May 1st, 2011 at 12:45 AM
If you say serial number is for security why not just issue the slip with serial number without writing down the number next to the voter IC.
Since every voter have been allocated their designated voting station. there isn’t a need to serialize the voting slip of the voter. They can just issue a balloting slip like a movie entrance ticket after you enter the ticket is being collected half it. Strictly No entrance for spoil/tamper.
Don’t tell me that the slip wont be tally after everything. There is 100 and 1 possibility after everything have ended and “lock up in the vault” unless u are telling me that the vault is having multiple lock that require all to be present before it can be open maybe then i will choose to believe.
Reply:
As the voting slip is issued from a “receipt book” of voting slips, there is a need to record the serial number of the poll card onto the receipt copy of the voting slip. Imagine if this control is absent and I am the election official with the voting slip booklets, who is to know if I slipped in “unissued” voting slips into the ballot boxes. Therefore, this control is actually more to protect the opposition, if you understand what I mean.
Therefore, pls be assured, your votes are secret. I implore you to vote with your conscience and with courage and not out of fear. We have lived in fear for too long. If we continue to live in fear, you will succumb to the PAP message of fear transmitted relentlessly through the mainstream media. As one person said above, living life in fear is not living life at all. Furthermore, the fear of voting is a totally unfounded fear. Please spread the word around to all your know and ask that they do the same. Tell everyone that voting is secret and pls vote wisely. This is a very critical GE. Let’s be united in one voice. Vote for accountability in Parliament and real debate over issues affecting the lives of Singaporeans. We need at least one third opposition to block any future changes to the constitution, such as the GRC and electoral boundary changes, for a party’s own advantage.
Reply Wilson
Wilson Says:
April 29th, 2011 at 8:06 PM
is there anyone overlooking the transport process. there can be chances that the temper prove boxes be swapped
Reply:
The boxes are sealed with tamper proof seals and signed so any tampering during transportation would be detected.
Hi all,
If the government really want to track, they can really do it.
They already have the serial number stored in a database (you go to http://www.elections.gov.sg -> eServices –> Login with Singpass, you will find your serial number in there. Therefore to link a serial number back to the person who vote is very easy as it is all computerised. Your balloting slip (with the serial number scribbled on it) will also be on one of the polling boxes. Let us assume that you live in Blk 2 Tampines and Polling Box A1 is for Block 1 to Block 5. If the government want to check who you vote for, they can zoom down to Box A1 and do the check.
But I would not think the reigning party would want to do this(trace the vote) because if found out, it is the party integrity and reputation at stake.
My question is, assuming someone really smuggle in additional counterfeit ballationg slips and let’s say the counterfeit is so real that nobody can tell the difference. To tally against the number of votes, the only way will be to write down the serial number of the ballating slip and then check if there is any duplicate of the serial number. This means that you will know who vote for who. However, this is a hypothetical event which chances/probability of happening is quite remote.
Sam Ang
In reply to Misinformed: Have you seen the thank you slip for yourself? How are you sure that your mum voted for PAP? Or is she just trying to further convince you to vote for WP? Or that you’re just making this whole thing up? If you think that a party with all those security measures like PAP cannot be trusted, what makes you able to be trusted too? Therefore, your point is invalid.
is it possible for the ballot paper serial number to be a piece of sticker? Anyone can remove the serial number after voting. the officer there could ensure the vote is place in the box and the whole system still ensure no fraud can happen. when voting paper has no serial number, it is almost impossible to trace the voter even if anyone allows it…