1-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) Singaporeans are gearing up to cast their votes in the country’s ninth presidential election, marking the first contested race since 2011. The campaign period, which lasted for nine days, was followed by a day of cooling off and reflection before the election day. Election officials have been busy setting up polling stations to accommodate the 2,709,407 eligible voters.
The race features three candidates: Ng Kok Song, the former chief investment officer of GIC, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a former senior minister, and Tan Kin Lian, the former chief of NTUC Income. The candidates have been actively engaging with voters during walkabouts and campaign events, utilizing the opportunity to convey their messages and connect with the electorate.
While the role of Singapore’s president is largely ceremonial, the president holds custodial powers over the country’s past reserves and the appointment of senior officials. The candidates’ approach to their custodial functions and unifying role has been a topic of discussion throughout the campaign. Critics have also questioned the institution of the elected presidency itself, prompting the Elections Department to issue a statement to clarify its remit.
During the second political broadcast, the candidates made their final appeals to voters, highlighting their credentials and experiences that make them suitable for the role. This election marks only the third contested presidential race since the introduction of the elected presidency in 1991, with the first election held in 1993 and the second in 2011. Many voters will be participating in electing their president for the first time.
All three candidates have made efforts to appeal to the youth vote. They have appeared on podcasts hosted by young individuals, engaged with influencers, and live-streamed on social media platforms to showcase their more relatable and casual sides. Throughout the campaign period, the candidates have visited markets, hawker centers, and town centers, interacting with voters and taking photographs.
On the election day, polling stations will be open from 8 am to 8 pm, with additional measures implemented to reduce waiting times. Following the experience of the 2020 General Election, where long queues caused extended polling hours, more stations, registration counters, and ballot paper counters have been added. Voters can also check the queue situation at their designated polling station via the VoteQ website using a QR code on their poll card.
In addition to domestic voting, 3,432 Singaporeans residing overseas will be casting their votes by post for the first time. The remaining 3,217 overseas voters will visit one of the ten overseas polling stations located in Beijing, Canberra, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Washington.
Unlike the previous presidential race in 2011, when official results were declared in the early hours after a recount, this time an official sample count will be released about three hours after polls close. This means that Singaporeans may have an indication of their next president by around 10 pm to 11 pm.
