Singapore legislation
Clause 9
of Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill
Clause 9
Modified nomination proceedings
(1)
Subsection (2) applies to an individual who —
is seeking nomination as a candidate at an election in an electoral division (called in this section the aspiring candidate); and (b)is, on the nomination day of the election, unable or unfit to attend in person at the nomination proceedings at the place of nomination because of —
being subject to a COVID‑19 quarantine order;
being subject to a COVID‑19 stay order; (iii)any other requirement in the Stay Order Regulations to not leave his or her residence or place of accommodation; (iv)his or her hospitalisation for any reason certified by a duly qualified medical practitioner; or
ill-health, but only if a duly qualified medical practitioner certifies in writing that the individual is unfit to attend the nomination proceedings in person as a result.
(2)
Despite sections 27(3), 27B(3) and 29 of the Parliamentary Elections Act —
the nomination papers of an aspiring candidate in subsection (1) may be delivered on his or her behalf by his or her authorised representative in accordance with this section; and
if so delivered, the Returning Officer must not reject those nomination papers just because they are not delivered by the aspiring candidate in person.
(3)
An authorised representative of an aspiring candidate or candidate at an election in an electoral division must be a citizen of Singapore who is —
an elector who is entitled to vote at the election in the electoral division or another electoral division; and
a donee under a power of attorney by the aspiring candidate or the candidate, authorising him or her to represent and act on behalf of the aspiring candidate or candidate at nomination proceedings under the Parliamentary Elections Act.
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (2), the nomination papers of an aspiring candidate delivered by an authorised representative must be —
accompanied by —
a certified copy of the power of attorney mentioned in subsection (3)(b); and
a copy of the COVID‑19 quarantine order or COVID‑19 stay order relating to the aspiring candidate, or the certificate of unfitness to attend from a duly qualified medical practitioner (as the case may be), relating to the aspiring candidate; and
delivered in duplicate, by the authorised representative in person accompanied by the aspiring candidate’s proposer, seconder and at least 4 assentors, at the place of nomination between 11 a.m. and 12 noon (both times inclusive) on nomination day.
(5)
For the purposes of an election —
a reference in section 29A (except section 29A(3)(a)) of the Parliamentary Elections Act to a person seeking nomination or a candidate includes a reference to an authorised representative of an aspiring candidate in subsection (1); and
a reference in sections 30(1A)(a), (2)(b) and (5) and 31(1)(a), (2) and (3) of that Act to a candidate includes a reference to an authorised representative of an aspiring candidate in subsection (1) who is nominated.
(6)
A notice of withdrawal of candidature for the purposes of section 32(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, may be given by the authorised representative of the candidate in person, signed by the authorised representative.
(7)
Subject to this section, nomination proceedings at an election in an electoral division involving an aspiring candidate mentioned in subsection (1) must be conducted in the same manner, so far as is practicable, as that in which nomination proceedings are conducted under sections 27 to 32A of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
(8)
In this section —
Definition
“aspiring candidate” means a person seeking nomination as a candidate at an election;
Definition
“nomination papers”, for an aspiring candidate at an election or a candidate, means the nomination papers and other certificates required by section 29(2) of the Parliamentary Elections Act to be delivered to the Returning Officer in relation to the aspiring candidate or candidate;
Definition
“power of attorney” does not include a lasting power of attorney created under the Mental Capacity Act (Cap. 177A).