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SINGAPORE – Parliament passed a law on Monday (May 4) to allow special, temporary arrangements to be implemented should the next General Election take place amid the coronavirus pandemic, so that voters, candidates and election officials can go to the polls safely.
The upcoming GE must be held by April 14, 2021.
Citing this constitutional timeline, and the likelihood that the Covid-19 crisis will last many more months, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said it is prudent to make contingency plans.
“This is the responsible thing to do. To robustly plan well ahead. To keep our citizens safe while upholding our democracy,” he added as he opened the debate on the Bill.
The Parliamentary Elections (Covid-19 Special Arrangements) Bill allows some electors who are subject to movement control orders to vote and excuses some others for not voting.
It also allows for aspiring candidates to authorise a representative to file nomination papers for them if they are unable or unfit to do so.
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