funny things
So I was complaining about not being able to vote in the Singapore Elections since the nearest polling station is in NYC. I guess it would've made a nice travel break, and I could've dropped by to see thymia and we would've made a fun day-trip out of it or something, but for the moment that sort of privilege is reserved for the comfortable middle classes (and up), I think.
Anyway, I was fiddling around on the SGelections website trying to figure out how to register as an overseas voter (you fill out a form, print it out... and MAIL it in) and to see if there was any online voting (there isn't). And since voting is compulsory in Singapore (if you don't vote, you get deregistered as a voter and have to pay $50 to reregister in the future, unless you had a good excuse), I decided to send a note asking if I should register even if I wasn't going to go vote.
I said,
Subject : Voting overseas but unable to travel to polling station
Comments : Hi, I am a Singaporean who lives in Toronto. I cannot afford to travel to the closest polling station (New York City) to vote in the upcoming elections. Should I still register as an overseas voter?
The Elections Department (ELD) replied surprisingly quickly,
It is not mandatory for every overseas Singaporean to register themselves as overseas electors unless they meet the qualification and find it convenient to cast their votes at one of the 9 designated overseas polling stations when Singapore conducts its parliamentary or presidential elections.
You will not be penalised for not being able to come back to Singapore to vote, other than your name being removed from the Register of Electors as required by Law. But not to worry, you can apply on-line to restore your name to the registers of electors when the non-voters list is ready 2 months after the election. Reasons for not voting such as staying abroad, studying or working abroad are acceptable to enable you to restore your name to the registers.
Thank you.
I'm considering writing back along the lines of:
Thank you for your quick reply! But what if I want to run as an MP in the future? Will having been a non-voter be held against me? People will say that I'm apolitical and don't care about the nation, when in reality I simply can't afford to travel to vote. Don't you think that the ELD should offer online voting? Or do you think that voting (and being involved in politics) is a privilege reserved for people who can afford the time and money to do so?
I invite your comments. XD
Anyway, I was fiddling around on the SGelections website trying to figure out how to register as an overseas voter (you fill out a form, print it out... and MAIL it in) and to see if there was any online voting (there isn't). And since voting is compulsory in Singapore (if you don't vote, you get deregistered as a voter and have to pay $50 to reregister in the future, unless you had a good excuse), I decided to send a note asking if I should register even if I wasn't going to go vote.
I said,
Subject : Voting overseas but unable to travel to polling station
Comments : Hi, I am a Singaporean who lives in Toronto. I cannot afford to travel to the closest polling station (New York City) to vote in the upcoming elections. Should I still register as an overseas voter?
The Elections Department (ELD) replied surprisingly quickly,
It is not mandatory for every overseas Singaporean to register themselves as overseas electors unless they meet the qualification and find it convenient to cast their votes at one of the 9 designated overseas polling stations when Singapore conducts its parliamentary or presidential elections.
You will not be penalised for not being able to come back to Singapore to vote, other than your name being removed from the Register of Electors as required by Law. But not to worry, you can apply on-line to restore your name to the registers of electors when the non-voters list is ready 2 months after the election. Reasons for not voting such as staying abroad, studying or working abroad are acceptable to enable you to restore your name to the registers.
Thank you.
I'm considering writing back along the lines of:
Thank you for your quick reply! But what if I want to run as an MP in the future? Will having been a non-voter be held against me? People will say that I'm apolitical and don't care about the nation, when in reality I simply can't afford to travel to vote. Don't you think that the ELD should offer online voting? Or do you think that voting (and being involved in politics) is a privilege reserved for people who can afford the time and money to do so?
I invite your comments. XD