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  Voting is Compulsory

 Voting at Singapore’s presidential election or parliamentary election is compulsory for all eligible citizens. It is part of the responsibility of being an adult Singapore citizen.
So, if the presidential election or the parliamentary election in your constituency is contested, and you are eligible to vote, you must present yourself as a voter at your assigned polling station on Polling Day and cast your vote.

What if I do not vote at an election?
Can I get my name back on the register of electors for my constituency?
What would be regarded as a valid and sufficient reason for not voting?


What if I do not vote at an election?
At the end of the election, the Returning Officer will put your name, together with all others who did not vote at the election, in the list of non-voters and pass that to the Registration Officer. The Registration Officer will then remove your name from the certified register of electors.

This means that you cannot vote at any subsequent presidential or parliamentary election, and you are disqualified from being a candidate at any subsequent presidential or parliamentary election.
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Can I get my name back on the register of electors for my constituency?
You can do so anytime by applying to the Registration Officer with an explanation as to why you did not vote. You can find out how to do this at Check Register of Electors. However, a penalty is imposed if you do not have valid and sufficient reason for not voting. You must pay $5 to restore your name to the register of electors if you do not give valid and sufficient reason.

Please apply early to restore your name to the register of electors after any election. Law prohibits the Registration Officer from restoring your name to the register of electors for your constituency if any writ of election is issued for that constituency. The Registration Officer can do so only after the election for that constituency is over. In the meantime you will not be allowed to vote at any poll or stand as a candidate in that constituency.
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What would be regarded as a valid and sufficient reason for not voting?
The following explanations have been accepted as valid and sufficient reason for not voting :

a)
 working overseas (including being on a business trip) at the time of the poll
b)
 studying overseas at the time of the poll
c)
 living with your spouse who is working or studying overseas
d)
 overseas vacation which was planned before the poll
e)
 illness, or delivering a baby

You need to substantiate your explanation when applying to restore your name to the register of electors. For example, those who claim to be overseas to work or study, or to be living with a spouse who is working or studying overseas, the passport plus an employer's letter or educational institution's letter, and marriage certificate would be required. For those who were on an overseas vacation or business trip, the passport plus documents showing that the trip had been planned before Nomination Day should be produced, such as receipts from travel agencies, air tickets, hotel booking receipts, or a suitable letter from your employer. Those who did not vote for health reasons should produce a medical certificate, hospital bill or the child's birth certificate.
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    Last Updated on: 07 Sep 2005