Singapore legislation

Clause 5

of Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill

Clause 5

Special polling stations

(1)

This section applies where —

(a)

a poll is required under the Parliamentary Elections Act in an electoral division; and

(b)

the Returning Officer is aware that 2 or more individuals residing in one or more boarding premises —

(i)

are electors entitled to vote at the election in the electoral division; and

(ii)

are or will be each subject to a COVID‑19 stay order on the polling day of the election and required to not leave the boarding premises.

(2)

The Returning Officer —

(a)

may establish in any of the following premises, polling stations specially for voting by electors subject to COVID‑19 stay orders to not leave a boarding premises:

(i)

any boarding premises the electors are required to not leave; (ii)any other suitable premises in Singapore; and

(b)

must allot those electors subject to COVID‑19 stay orders to not leave a boarding premises to the special polling stations in paragraph (a) in any manner the Returning Officer considers expedient.

(3)

A special polling station established under subsection (2) —

(a)

comprises an area, within a boarding premises or other suitable premises, that is demarcated by or under the authority of the Returning Officer to be a special polling station; and

(b)

must have as many polling places within the special polling station as the Returning Officer considers necessary for the electors allotted to vote at that polling station to cast their votes at the election.

(4)

When the Returning Officer publishes a notice under section 34(6) or 34A(6) of the Parliamentary Elections Act in respect of an electoral division, the Returning Officer must also publish in the Gazette a notice of —

(a)

the location of every special polling station established; and

(b)

the periods during which votes may be cast at each special polling station established.

(5)

If the Returning Officer establishes more special polling stations after publishing in the Gazette a notice under subsection (4), the Returning Officer must —

(a)

cause notice of every additional special polling station so established to be published in the Gazette at least 2 clear days before polling day; and

(b)

allot to any special polling station those electors subject to COVID‑19 stay orders to not leave a boarding premises and not earlier allotted under subsection (2)(b), in any manner the Returning Officer considers expedient.

Read in full context — Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill →