VOTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS OF VOTERS


COVID-19 patients and persons on QO for COVID-19
COVID-19 patients and voters who are on QO for COVID-19 will not be allowed to vote, to minimise their contact with members of the public and reduce risk of community transmission. The number of voters in these two groups is about 350 as of 30 June 2020.

Special voting hour for persons on SHNs at home and unwell persons
For voters who are under SHN at home, on MC for ARI, or have fever (temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and above), MOH has advised that they should remain at home, and not move around in the community to avoid risk of transmission.
As of 30 June 2020, there are about 360 voters under SHN at home.
However, ELD recognises that some of these voters may want to exercise their right to vote. In order to minimise exposure to other voters, candidates and election officials, ELD will set aside a special voting hour between 7pm and 8pm for these voters to vote. ELD has consulted the Director of Medical Services (DMS) and the
DMS grants permission to those on SHN at home and those on MC for ARI to leave their homes to vote during the special voting hour, subject to the conditions at Annex A. Such voters should take precautions when travelling to their assigned polling stations, such as by not taking public transport, going directly to the polling station and
returning home immediately after voting, maintaining safe distancing, as well as
wearing a mask at all times. If such voters show up at the polling stations during the regular voting hours from 8am to 7pm, they will be turned away and asked to return between 7pm and 8pm.
During the special voting hour between 7pm and 8pm, there will be a smaller team of election officials manning the polling station. These officials will exercise additional precautions (e.g. don full personal protective equipment, sanitise polling
equipment and contact surfaces after every voter’s use). Details on the procedures during the special voting hour is at Annex B.
Voters who are well should avoid the special voting hour between 7pm and 8pm and keep to their recommended voting time-band. Should they turn up to vote during the special voting hour, they will still be allowed to vote as the law allows for voting from 8am to 8pm.

Persons on SHNs at designated facilities
For those on SHN at designated facilities, they will be allowed to vote at the designated facilities away from other voters, as provided for under the Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Act 2020. Polling and counting proceedings for those on SHN at designated facilities is at Annex C

Source: ELD