GE2015: Do's and Don'ts on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day

[SINGAPORE] The Elections Department (ELD) on Wednesday issued a reminder of the Do's and Don'ts on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day.

Cooling-off Day falls on Sept 10, a day before the polls on Sept 11. It is a day when campaigning is disallowed and election advertising must not be published or displayed.

The ELD says the 24-hour campaign silence period is to let voters reflect rationally on various issues raised at an election before going to the polls.

On both days, campaign activities including canvassing and visiting homes and workplaces of voters in connection with the election are prohibited.

The wearing, use, carrying or displaying of any political propaganda such as a badge, symbol, set of colours, flag or placard by any person or on any vehicle is also not allowed.

The public is to refrain from wearing any apparel bearing the image, election symbol and/or campaign message of any candidate.

Election meetings are not to be held.

On both days, the publication of any election advertising in or among electors in the electoral division is prohibited, so is the display of any election advertising on any vehicle, thing or structure within the electoral division or adjoining the electoral division.

There are, however, exceptions to the publication or display of election advertising on the two days. They are:

a) Reports in newspapers, on radio and television relating to election matters;

b) Party Political Broadcasts scheduled from 9pm onwards on Cooling-off Day;

c) Approved posters/banners lawfully displayed before the start of Cooling-off Day;

d) Election advertising lawfully displayed or published before the start of Cooling-off Day on the Internet and that was not changed after its publication or display; (Programmatic advertising such as using technology to automatically deliver digital ads online and on social media platforms, however, should not be conducted on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day.)

e) Distribution or promotion of the sale of any book if the book was scheduled for publication independent of the election and not sold at less than its commercial value;

f) The transmission of personal political views on a non-commercial basis, using the Internet, telephone or electronic means;

g) The wearing by candidates of a badge indicating affiliation with a political party or replica of the symbol allotted to them.

The publication of election surveys and exit polls are also prohibited before the close of all polling stations.

On Friday, polling stations in Singapore will be open from 8am to 8pm.

Voters are reminded to bring their original NRIC/passport and poll card to the polling station to cast their vote.

They will have to mark their choice with a cross ("X") on the ballot paper in the space provided on the right hand side of the ballot paper opposite the name of the candidate or, if the electoral division is a group representation constituency, the names of the group of candidates.

After indicating their choice, voters have to fold their ballot paper and put it into the ballot box before leaving the polling station.

The ELD said voters may wish to avoid going to the polling station during the morning peak period when waiting duration tends to be longer.

No camera, video or photographic equipment is allowed in the polling station.

For more information on the Do's and Don'ts on Polling Day, voters can visit the ELD's website .

Read more about GE2015 here.