Singapore legislation
Regulation 30
of Presidential Elections (Overseas Voting) Regulations 2023
Regulation 30
Safe custody of all return envelopes, etc.
Subregulation 1
Subject to paragraph (2), all papers that are or purport to be return envelopes containing the postal ballot papers for an election received by the Returning Officer —
must be kept in safe custody and remain sealed; and
must not be opened or tampered with before the pre‑count examination of postal voting papers under section 36C of the Act.
Subregulation 2
If the Returning Officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a return envelope contains harmful or hazardous substances, the Returning Officer must —
open the return envelope for the purposes of examining the existence of such harmful or hazardous substances; and
record the result of the examination and inform the candidates or their principal election agent as soon as possible of the result.
Subregulation 3
If a return envelope is opened in accordance with paragraph (2), any postal ballot paper contained in that return envelope must not be accepted for counting, regardless of the result of the examination.
Subregulation 4
If the return envelope contains harmful or hazardous substances, the return envelope (and any postal ballot paper inside) must be disposed of in a safe manner and in a manner that does not compromise voter secrecy.
Subregulation 5
If the return envelope does not contain harmful or hazardous substances, the return envelope (and any postal ballot paper inside) must be dealt with in the manner set out in section 36E(2) of the Act.