As Singapore approaches its General Election on May 3rd, approximately 2.75 million voters are expected to participate. This figure represents an increase of 104,153 individuals since the last update of the electoral roll in April 2020 and includes first-time voters. The Straits Times has compiled relevant explanations and lists to help voters navigate the process smoothly.

Voting Eligibility and Obligation

Any Singaporean citizen aged 21 and above as of February 1, 2025, whose name is on the electoral roll is eligible to vote. Individuals turning 21 after February 1st and before polling day will need to wait until the next election. Voting is compulsory in Singapore, and failure to vote without a valid reason will result in the voter's name being removed from the electoral roll.

How to Check Your Voting Eligibility

You can check if your name is on the electoral roll through the following methods:

Online verification using Singpass on the Elections Department (ELD) website.
In-person verification with your identity card or passport at the Elections Department located at Novena Rise, No. 11.
In-person verification with your identity card or passport at ServiceSG Centres, Community Centres, or Community Clubs.
In-person verification with your identity card or passport at Singapore Overseas Missions acting as overseas registration centers.
What if Your Name is Not on the Electoral Roll?

Once the Writ of Election is issued, individuals whose names are not on the electoral roll cannot vote in this General Election. This applies to both local and overseas voters. Voters who were eligible but did not vote in the previous election will have their names removed from the electoral roll. They will not be able to vote in subsequent elections or stand as candidates for President or Member of Parliament unless they apply to have their names restored via the ELD website. Name restoration can only be done before the Writ of Election is issued and must include a valid reason for not voting, such as being overseas or ill. A fee of $50 will be charged for those without a valid reason. Those who miss the deadline will have to wait until the electoral roll is reopened after this election.

Polling Station Location and What to Bring

Voters will receive a poll card by mail within 2 to 3 days after Nomination Day on April 23rd. The poll card will indicate the designated polling station, and voters can only cast their ballots at that specific location. An electronic poll card (ePoll card) can also be used via the Singpass Mobile app. As the current electoral roll is based on voters' addresses as of February 1st, voters who have changed their address since then will be assigned a polling station based on their previous address. The new address will be reflected in the electoral roll after the next update.

The items to bring for voting are:

Original or digital NRIC, passport, or identification card issued by the Ministry of Defence, Singapore Police Force, or Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Poll card or electronic poll card.
Photocopies of identification documents are not allowed.
Voting Day Workers and Overseas Residents

Polling day is a public holiday, and polling hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters can cast their ballots at any time during these hours. Employers are legally required to provide employees with a reasonable time to vote. Employees whose working hours overlap with polling hours should apply for time off. The registration deadline for overseas Singaporeans to vote was three days after the Writ of Election was issued, on April 17th. Registration is now closed, and those whose applications were successful will receive official notification from the ELD regarding their status as postal voters or the location of their assigned overseas polling station if they opted to vote in person. Overseas polling stations are located at 10 Singapore High Commissions, Embassies, or Consulates in cities with significant Singaporean populations, including Beijing, Canberra, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Washington.

Assistance for Elderly Voters, Those with Special Needs, and Voters with Disabilities

Polling stations will have the following facilities available:

Designated vehicular drop-off points.
Wheelchairs.
Barrier-free access.
Lowered polling booths and portable lap booths for wheelchair users.
Stencils and magnifying glasses for visually impaired voters.
Funnel to easily insert ballot papers into the ballot box.
Election officials will be available to provide assistance, and priority queues will be available for these voters. For voters with physical disabilities, election officials can assist in marking the ballot paper upon request. All election officials are sworn to secrecy. Each voter is entitled to one vote.

Checking Polling Station Queues

On polling day, voters can check the queue status at their designated polling station by entering their postal code on the website VoteQ, which will be activated on the day. The site will be updated approximately every 5 minutes during peak morning voting hours and approximately every 10 minutes during off-peak afternoon hours.

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