Tag Archives: Elections Department

The latest to show their support for PJ Thum and New Naratif was the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). On the evening of 22 Sep 2020, SDP made a press release to decry the harassment of activists and independent journalists in Singapore. The SDP explained that PJ Thum was only exercising his rights as a citizen of Singapore to comment on the local political situation. SDP said the ELD was acting in a partisan manner, and hit back at the ELD by suggesting the department should look into the "numerous incidents regarding the PAP" where elections rules may have been breached.

On 21 Sep 2020 New Naratif updated that Thum Ping Tjin (PJ Thum) had been hauled up by the police for questioning at Clementi Police Station over the ELD police report. After a lengthy hours-long police interview, the police brought PJ Thum home and his laptop was seized as evidence during this raid.

ELD has yet another cock-up to answer for. A voter was unable to cast her vote as an eligible voter because the system apparently reflected that she has voted. This is a serious matter about the integrity of the electoral process.

With the upcoming General Elections expected to be held soon, many speculate that GE2020 will be held while Covid19 is still around. While the Elections Department (ELD) has not released its campaigning rules, there has been talk that GE2020 may be a virtual GE campaign due to social distancing measures in place. Many political parties have stepped up their game to overcome the Covid19 challenges by going online.

There have been speculations both by the state media and netizens that GE2020 will be called in July 2020. According to the latest campaigning guidelines by ELD, it seems that the PAP may be keen to hold the GE in the midst of a Covid19 pandemic. Not to be outmaneuvered by the PAP, major political parties like the Singapore Democratic Party, The Workers' Party and Progress Singapore Party have proactively made calls for donations, volunteers and members to help with their campaigns.

Lawrence Wong finally admitted to reporters on 8 June 2020 that at least half of Singapore's Covid19 cases show no symptoms. In their usual manner, Lawrence Wong and the Covid19 Ministerial Task Force did not disclose how many of the confirmed cases were asymptomatic. What is more startling is that Elections Department (ELD) announced some measures for safe voting on the same day. If the PAP decides to hold a General Elections this year, which many speculate is in July 2020, Singaporean voters may go to the polls while Covid19 is potentially still around.

Facing mounting pressure by repeated calls from various opposition parties, the Elections Department (ELD) finally announced some campaign guidelines if the GE was held amid the Covid19 pandemic. However, the announcement did not appear to offer any concrete rules for campaigning as ELD was still concerned with the developing Covid19 situation and how rules may be "overtaken by events". With the predicted GE2020 to be announced in July, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) laid out some proposals to campaigning rules such that this GE will provide fair exposure and reach for all Parties.

How can the ELD say that there will be enough time for all candidates, especially the opposition, to prepare for their physical campaign strategies when the ELD does not know, and is not supposed to know when the elections will be called? Only Lee Hsien Loong decides when to call for elections. Unless the ELD is in cahoots with LHL about when the elections will be held?

Halimah Yacob has finally submitted her application for the upcoming Presidential Election. She understands the importance of the PE and said the election process has been good so far. She wants to serve the people with all her heart and hopes to get a favourable response. Are you convinced?

According to the rules by ELD (http://www.eld.gov.sg/candidate_parliamentary_campaign.html), candidates can only start campaigning after close of nomination.