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Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Voters turn up in droves despite morning downpour; 82% have cast their votes as at 5pm
An elderly voter, using a wheelchair, being assisted at the polling station at Serangoon Community Club. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Residents casting their votes at the polling station at Serangoon Community Club. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Early voters walking in the rain to Cairnhill Community Club on Polling Day. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Members of the public voting at the Bendemeer Primary School polling station on May 3. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Residents casting their votes at the void deck of Block 608 Clementi West Street 1 on May 3. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH GE2025: Voters turn up in droves despite morning downpour; 82% have cast their votes as at 5pm Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Wedding planning can be stressful at the best of times, but for bride Aneetha Jeet Kaur Dhillon, things were extra nerve-racking with her May 3 wedding coinciding with Polling Day. A few of the groomsmen were activated for polling station duties and several guests pulled out because of the clash, which meant schedules had to be adjusted and seating plans rearranged, said Ms Dhillon, an accountant. 'I was a little frantic when I found out (about Polling Day) because we've planned this wedding for months, so the news came suddenly,' she told The Straits Times. 'However, we managed to pull through despite a few inevitable hiccups here and there.' After saying 'I do' at the Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church, Ms Dhillon and her husband Sherman Ding rushed off to cast their votes, still dressed in their wedding finery. They were assigned different polling centres, according to their registered addresses. After a lunch reception at the church in Pandan Gardens, Ms Dhillon was at Block 460, Jurong West Street 41. A friend held up the long train of her dress, which weighs 12kg, as she dashed across the void deck, attracting curious stares and smiles at the polling centre under Jurong Central GRC. Immediately after casting her vote, Ms Dhillon was off again, this time, to be reunited with her husband for their rescheduled wedding photoshoot. Some of Singapore's 2.6 million voters got a rainy start at the polls on May 3, with many braving the early morning torrential downpour to cast their votes amid flash-flood warnings in several areas. Lines started forming about an hour before the 1,240 polling centres, across schools, void decks and Housing Board pavilions, opened their gates at 8am. In Punggol, lawyer Raphael Louis, 54, and his wife, Ms Irene Lum, 51, were the first to cast their votes at the Block 264 polling station. Mr Raphael Louis, a 54-year-old lawyer, with his wife, Ms Irene Lum, 51. ST PHOTO: TEO KAI XIANG They had arrived at 6.15am to beat the queue to cast their votes in what they said was likely 'the most exciting election ever'. 'There was a lot of (campaigning on) social media, especially YouTube and podcasts. We had a lot more info pertaining to (the) candidates,' Mr Louis said. The couple, who said they attended one rally, have a 19-year-old daughter. They said she followed the campaigning closely, but was disappointed that she is not old enough to vote. Singaporeans have to be not less than 21 years old to vote. Farther east, at Poi Ching School in Tampines, residents arrived in dribs and drabs clutching large umbrellas. Mr Juanda and Mrs Sariah, who gave only their first names, were two of the earliest voters at Poi Ching School. They turned up before 8am because they had planned a short break across the Causeway on Polling Day. Mr Juanda and Mrs Sariah were two of the earliest voters at Poi Ching School. ST PHOTO: SHAWN HOO In Woodlands, where Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is contesting as part of the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC team, early voters were spared the downpour seen in other parts of the island. The four-member team is up against contenders from the Singapore Democratic Party. At least 50 people were in line at 8.05am at the polling station at Block 168 Woodlands Street 11. By late morning, the skies had cleared. Most Singaporeans reported the voting process to have been a breeze, with few or no queues at the polling centres. PM Wong and Mrs Wong showed up to cast their votes at the MOE (Evans) Sport Hall, a polling centre for Tanjong Pagar GRC, just after 12pm. PM Wong and Mrs Wong arrives at MOE (Evans) Sport Hall, a polling centre for Tanjong Pagar GRC, just after 12pm. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Shortly before that, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, accompanied by his wife, Madam Ho Ching, had arrived to vote at Crescent Girls' School, also a polling centre for Tanjong Pagar GRC. As of 5pm, 2,164,593 Singaporeans had turned up to cast their votes islandwide, or about 82 per cent of eligible electors in all contested electoral divisions, the Elections Department said. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong with his wife Ho Ching after casting his vote at Crescent Girls' School. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Senior citizens, those with mobility issues and individuals with special needs were given priority at the polling centres, with some wheeled to the polling booths by election officials. Some 2,800 eligible voters aboard the Genting Dream cruise returned to shore early so they could vote, reported Shin Min Daily News. Initially scheduled for a two-night journey, the vessel returned to shore early morning on May 3, before setting sail again at 6pm. General Election 2025 saw physical rallies returning for the first time since 2015, after the pandemic limited campaigning in 2020. Covid-19 pandemic prevention rules meant long waiting times in the 2020 General Election. Polls were kept open for an additional two hours so that everyone could have a chance to vote. The 2025 election saw nine days of intense campaigning, with 92 of 97 parliamentary seats to be decided on Polling Day. Only the PAP team in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC was returned unopposed on Nomination Day. Residents queueing to cast their votes at the polling station at the void deck of Block 608 Clementi West Street 1 on May 3. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH The PAP is contesting all seats against 10 opposition parties and two independent candidates in 32 constituencies, with multi-cornered fights in Ang Mo Kio, Sembawang and Tampines GRCs, and the single seats of Potong Pasir and Radin Mas. Tampines has the most number of contenders, with the PAP up against three opposition parties – the WP, National Solidarity Party and People's Power Party. Other closely watched battlegrounds that emerged during the hustings include the new Punggol GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC. A last-minute switch on nomination day on April 23 saw Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong moved from Chua Chu Kang GRC, where he had been for 14 years, to lead the team in Punggol GRC. They are up against a WP team led by Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh. Meanwhile, in Tampines GRC, the WP's former Aljunied GRC MP Faisal Manap is leading a five-member team against the PAP incumbents, led by Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli. First-time voter Natasha, a 25-year-old information technology worker who declined to give her last name, was among residents at the polling station at Block 436 Fernvale Road, in the new Jalan Kayu SMC. The constituency was previously part of Ang Mo Kio GRC led by SM Lee. Ms Natasha, who followed most of the rallies online, said the most novel part of this election was the big social media push from all parties. Actress Sora Ma, a first-time voter, was seen with her eight-month-old son Skye, casting her vote at a polling station in Tampines GRC at about 12.05pm. 'To be able to have a voice in shaping the future of Singapore is very meaningful,' she told The Straits Times. Actress Sora Ma, a first-time voter, was seen with her eight-month-old son Skye, casting her vote at a polling station in Tampines GRC at about 12.05pm. ST PHOTO: SHAWN HOO The 41-year-old mother said she had limited time to follow the entire election campaign, focusing instead on studying the leaflets that the parties contesting Tampines GRC sent in the mail. The Malaysian-born actress, who became a Singapore citizen just this year, was deliberating whether or not to take her son to the polling station and eventually decided to. 'I wanted him to witness and see the whole process.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
02-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: How schools are being used as polling stations
Some schools, such as Bendemeer Primary School, will be used as polling stations for Singapore's General Election. About half of the school canteen has been cordoned to be the restricted area where voters will vote. About 22 election officials will help run the polling station, and they will take turns to go for their breaks as they are expected to be on duty for over 14 hours. For some officials, training started over 18 months ago. Aslam Shah reports.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Inside the set-up of one of Singapore's 1,240 polling stations
SINGAPORE – While candidates and their aides took a day off from campaigning on Cooling-off Day on May 2, election official Nicole Teo, 29, was hard at work setting up one of 1,240 polling stations in Singapore from as early as 9am. As Singapore gears up for Polling Day on May 3, Ms Teo and 21 fellow election officials have been busy transforming the canteen of Bendemeer Primary School into a polling station. About 1,500 to 1,600 voters are expected to vote at the station for the candidates of their choice in Jalan Besar GRC between 8am and 8pm on May 3, says Ms Teo. A senior presiding officer at the polling station, Ms Teo was also an election official in GE2020 and the presidential election in 2023. She and her team were seen putting up brightly coloured signage and instructions around the polling booth as well as attending team briefings on May 2. Ms Nicole Teo putting up a poster at the Bendemeer Primary School polling station on the eve of Polling Day on May 2. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Preparations began two years ago when she had to attend tutorials and training sessions, where she had to pass several quizzes. One of the most challenging parts of her job is to know every role inside out. She told The Straits Times at a media interview at Bendemeer Primary School: 'As a senior presiding officer, we need to have a very clear overview of all the different roles within the polling station.' An election official pasting stickers on the ground during the setting up of the polling station at Bendemeer Primary School on the eve of Polling Day on May 2. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Ms Teo is one of around 34,000 public service officers who have been deployed as election officials for GE2025, supporting nomination, polling and counting activities, said an Elections Department (ELD) spokesperson. Around 2.6 million Singaporeans are expected to cast their vote on May 3 at schools, void decks, community centres and Housing Board pavilions islandwide. At the polling station, voters can expect bright yellow signage indicating the five stations that voters will have to move through, as well as arrows that indicate the flow of movement. Seniors, persons in wheelchairs and pregnant women can join a priority queue to cast their vote. Twenty-two election officials were on site to set up a polling station at Bendemeer Primary School on May 2. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY For smooth sailing on Polling Day, Ms Teo advises voters to dress comfortably and check for crowds at their polling station on the ELD website or on Singpass. She added: 'It will be important to not turn up so early because the peak hours will probably be in the morning.' Ms Teo also recommends that voters use the self-inking 'X' stamps as an 'efficient' way to indicate their vote. However, they may also choose to bring their own pen or approach an election official to borrow a pen. Ms Teo also recommends voters to use the self-inking 'X' stamps as an 'efficient' way to indicate their vote. However, they may also choose to bring their own pen or approach an election official to borrow a pen. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY The election officials are well prepared for various weather conditions with water canisters, disposable raincoats and insect repellant spray on site for their use. Ms Teo's work at Bendemeer Primary School on May 3 begins at 6am and she expects to knock off after 9pm. Like every other Singaporean on May 3, she will have to find time to vote between 8am and 8pm. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
