Singapore’s Election Day: Clean Hands, Hot Durian, and a Whole Lot of Voter Energy
1⃣ The Polling Day Ritual
Every polling station is now a micro‑sanitation zone – hand sanitisers, disposable gloves, temperature checks, and those familiar pink‑lines that keep our queues at a safe distance. With 2.65 million voters heading to their booths, safety just got the top spot on the agenda.
2⃣ The “Cooling‑Off” Day: A Moment to Breathe
After nine intense days of campaigning, the government gave voters a full day to think, reflect, and maybe binge‑watch their favourite shows. While the candidates rested, public servants were tangoing around the city to install extra booths, set up temperature stations in school canteens and void decks, and paint new floor markings for the “one‑by‑one” queue.
3⃣ 880 to 1,100: Adding Extra Seats for the Crowd
To keep the lines in check and the crowds in control, the total number of polling stations leapt from 880 to 1,100. Think of it as moving from a single‑seat car to a larger bus – a way to keep everyone safe.
4⃣ Candidates’ “Break & Snack” Sessions
- Grace Fu – the Culture Minister – turned lunch time into a durian‑soaked dinner with party activists and volunteers.
- Ang Yong Guan (PSP, Marymount SMC) – stayed on the sidelines, re‑reading his clinic notes and keeping his squad in check.
- Other leaders did their own version of a “quiet moment”‑page, soaking up the vibe while the campaign engines cooled.
5⃣ The Final Six Public Pitches (and a Seventeenth Person Still Dreaming)
Seven political parties channeled their energy into the last broadcast session – sticking to the core stories they’d promoted in the past nine days:
- Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (PAP) – called on a proven, experienced team to tackle the “in‑short‑term” crisis of jobs and reshape the economy for the future.
- Opposition parties – urged voters to bring more punch to Parliament. “We want a Parliament with an opposition that doesn’t let the ruling party have a free‑pass to legislate,” they said.
- Sylvia Lim – painted a picture of a Singapore where the power imbalance between the state and its citizens is toppled.
- Tan Cheng Bock – promised to keep the PAP “on its toes” and avoid any big policy surprises that would take the country by blindside.
6⃣ Overseas Voters: From Dubai to London
Voters abroad were among the first to cast their ballots, kicking things off in Dubai at noon and quickly following in London. The 6,570 overseas voters in this general election are a boost from the 4,868 who voted in 2015.
7⃣ Voting Logistics (Get Your Position Right)
8⃣ Counting 2020: A New Twist
After the 8 pm closing clock, the vote‑counting chain starts – a rapid mix of mechanical counting machines (cleaned with disinfectant wipes), with the first read‑out still happening manually. The expectation? Results generated quicker than in any previous election, helping to keep the post‑election buzz flowing without the long wait.
Stay Informed, Stay Safe
Keep up with the most recent coronavirus updates and make sure you’re aware of the latest prompt on your voting journey. Best of luck to all voters, and remember: every vote is a fresh breath of Singapore’s civic engagement!
