There is one concern I hear from voters that I want to address head-on — the fear that your vote isn’t secret.
I’ve contested four general elections and I can assure you with full confidence: Your vote is secret. 投票是秘密的。
When you go to vote and present your IC at the polling station, you will hear the election official call out your serial number and name. Don’t worry. This is to allow polling agents — who are volunteers from both WP and PAP — to tick off your name to record your presence — not your vote. This prevents double voting.
When you vote, you walk to the polling booth alone. You put a “chop” on the box next to your preferred party. No one can see your vote.
At the counting centre, candidates and counting agents from all contesting parties are present to observe the count to ensure that everything is done correctly.
Once the count is complete, the ballot boxes are sealed and locked in the Supreme Court vault. Only a court order can release them — and this has never happened in Singapore’s history.
Six months later, representatives from all the contesting parties return to the vault to witness it being unlocked. We inspect the seals and confirm they haven’t been tampered with. Then we accompany the boxes to Tuas Incineration Plant, where they are burned — in full view.
“But the ballot paper has a serial number,” some may ask. That number is there to prevent fraud like ballot stuffing. Your vote remains secret because there is no opportunity for anyone to match your marked ballot paper with the electoral register, because the only time the ballot papers are seen by anyone is at the counting centre.
Ballot papers are placed face-up so that only the vote is visible. The serial number stays hidden.
I know there are many well-meaning opposition supporters who have doubts about the secrecy of the vote and do not hesitate to tell you so. Not only is this untrue, but could scare people from voting for the party they prefer.
Your vote is secret. And every vote matters.
If you are a civil servant, NTUC member, or simply worried that voting opposition will land you or your family members in some trouble, I will say this to you: Vote with confidence, not fear. Vote for what you think is right, and for the candidate and party that you believe will best serve your family and your nation.
I believe these are the candidates that the Workers’ Party has fielded in General Election 2025.
This was adapted from my speech at the Workers’ Party election rally on 24 Apr 2025. I would like to thank the thousands of civil servants who are doing their best to ensure Singapore has a free and fair election.
