The Writ of Election was just announced yesterday (April 15), officially kicking off the lead-up to Singapore’s 2025 General Election, which will take place on May 3.
GE comes around every five years, and it’s important for all eligible voters to do their part, especially as the world faces profound changes.
As PM Wong emphasised yesterday in a Facebook post, Singaporeans must choose the team to lead the nation forward in these uncertain times.
But what happens if you don’t vote—or are unable to?
Voting is compulsory in Singapore
Unlike other democratic countries such as the United States of America, voting is deemed compulsory in Singapore, according to Singapore’s Elections Department (ELD).
It is as much a fundamental right of citizenship as it is a civic responsibility to be exercised by citizens to choose and elect their leaders in a democracy.
All Singapore citizens whose names are in the Registers of Electors have to cast their votes on Polling Day.
Elections Department Singapore
So, long story short, if you don’t vote on Polling Day, your voting rights will be forfeited.
After the elections end, the Returning Officer will compile a list of non-voters (those who should have voted but didn’t).
The Registration Officer will then remove these names from the certified Register of Electors of the constituencies that they belong to.
Non-voters cannot vote at any subsequent Presidential or Parliamentary election, and are disqualified from being an election candidate in the future.
How can Singaporeans restore their name in the register?
According to the ELD, a non-voter can restore their name to the register by submitting an application to the Registration Officer along with an explanation as to why he/she did not vote in the election.
A fee of S$50 will be imposed if a non-voter does not have a valid and sufficient reason for not voting.
Some valid reasons are:
- Working overseas (including being on a business trip) at the time of the poll
- Studying overseas at the time of the poll
- Living with their spouse who is working or studying overseas
- Overseas vacation
- Illness, or delivering a baby
The application may be made online via the Voter Services portal on the ELD website or through over-the-counter assistance at any community centre/club or the Elections Department.
Those who wish to restore their names in the register are encouraged to submit their application early, as no restoration can be made once a Writ of Election is already issued.
In the future, if you foresee that you cannot vote in the upcoming election (as per the reasons above) but wish to vote in future elections, you can pre-apply for your name to be restored through the same application process mentioned earlier.
Applications for restoration of names received during the election period will only be processed after the non-voter list is compiled after the election.
In the event that you are later able to vote in the election, you may still proceed to cast your vote at the allotted polling station, and your earlier application to restore your name will be automatically voided.
In an uncertain world where a new era is looming, your vote matters more than ever this GE2025—it could be the deciding factor that tips the scales in favour of one political party.
Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and more here.
Featured Image Credit: Elections Department