GE explainer: What are polling agents? Can you become one?

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Most Singaporeans are aware of their civic duty to vote, but did you know that there’s more you can do as a member of the public?

Come election time, each political party will be calling for volunteers to act as polling agents.

What exactly does that entail? Let’s break it down.

What do they do?

Polling agents are appointed by candidates or their election agents in order to ensure a fair election.

In a nutshell, they make sure that the poll is carried out in accordance with the law.

On Polling Day, polling agents will be allowed to monitor the proceedings from a position that will not compromise the secrecy of voters’ ballots.

Things they will have to look out for include: attempts to intimidate voters, campaigning on the day, or bias on the part of the presiding officers.

This means that polling agents will have to go through training before Polling Day to familiarise themselves with proper polling procedure, as well as the legal powers and duties of the presiding officers.

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