GE2020: Polling day voting hours extended to 10pm

The original timing was set from 8am to 8pm.

Julia Yeo | July 10, 2020, 07:23 PM

The Elections Department (ELD) announced an extension of voting hours from 8pm to 10pm on July 10, 2020.

Voting hours extended

The original voting hours stipulated was from 8am to 8pm.

Here is the full statement from the ELD:

"In exercise of his powers under section 39(3) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the Returning Officer has extended the polling hours of polling stations in Singapore except polling stations in SHN designated facilities."

"These polling stations will remain open until 10pm so that voters can cast their votes. While the queue situation across most polling stations has improved, a small number continue to see long queues. This extension in hours will allow enough time for all voters to cast their votes."

Announcement for Special Voting Hours Voters

For voters on Stay-Home Notice at home, on medical certificate for acute respiratory infection, or having a fever (37.5 degree Celsius and above), 7pm to 8pm had been set aside as a Special Voting Hour (SVH) for these voters to vote.

In view of the extension of voting hours until 10pm, the following arrangements will apply:

A. For polling stations which have no queue, SVH voters will be able to cast their votes as planned.

B. For polling stations which still have long queues, election officials will ask SVH voters to identify themselves and will isolate them in a separate holding area.

This is to prevent this group of voters from mixing with other voters. Once the queue has cleared, election officials will then arrange for SVH voters to vote.

"We strongly urge all SVH voters to check the queue situation for their polling station at VoteQ.gowhere.gov.sg."

"If the queue is long, we urge you to only arrive at the polling station at 9pm. Otherwise, SVH voters may have to wait a long time to cast their vote."

See the full release here:

Photo via ELD