Received this in my email on 7 Mar 2009:
On behalf of the Elections Department of Singapore, the Overseas Singaporean Unit is pleased to inform you that the Registers of Electors is open for public inspection from 3 March 2009 to 16 March 2009, as well as the revised qualifying criteria and registration procedure for overseas electors. The Elections Department's announcement is as follows:Date: 3 March 2009
Dear Sir/Madam,
REGISTRATION OF OVERSEAS ELECTORS
1. I am pleased to inform you that, in connection with the revision of the Registers of Electors (REs), the Elections Department (ELD) has started to register overseas electors from today (3 March 2009). Overseas Singaporeans who satisfy the revised qualifying criteria may now apply to be registered as overseas electors via the e-services provided at our website (www.elections.gov.sg), at any time up to when the writ for an election is issued, and after the election. Once registered, the registration will remain valid until such time when the relevant RE is superseded by the coming into operation of the next certified RE, or when the registration is cancelled by the overseas elector concerned.
Revision of Registers of Electors
2. As directed by the Prime Minister, ELD has revised the REs of the 23 constituencies based on the cut-off date of 1 February 2009. The revised REs contain the names of all persons who are qualified to be an elector as on 1 February 2009 and are not disqualified under any prevailing law. A person is qualified to be an elector if, as on 1 February 2009, he/she is a Singapore Citizen aged 21 and above, and is ordinarily resident in Singapore.
3.The revised REs are opened for public inspection from 3 March 2009 to 16 March 2009. Do visit our website (www.elections.gov.sg) during this period to check that your name and particulars, if found in the REs, are correct.
Registration of Overseas Electors
4.To facilitate voting by more overseas Singaporeans, the Parliamentary Elections Act was amended in August last year to shorten the required period of residence in Singapore for an overseas citizen to qualify for registration as an overseas elector. With this amendment, you will qualify for registration if you have been back in Singapore for an aggregate of not less than 30 days during the 3 years period immediately preceding 1 February 2009 (ie. during the period from 1 February 2006 to 31 January 2009). The amended law also provides for an extension of the registration period, up to when the writ for an election is issued, and resume after the election. In addition, application for registration may now be made online (using your NRIC number and SingPass for access) via the e-services provided at our website (www.elections.gov.sg). There will also be a new Overseas Polling Station set up at the Singapore Consulate in New York, making a total of 9 Overseas Polling Stations for the next Presidential Election and General Election.
5. For more information about registration of overseas electors and overseas voting, please visit our website (www.elections.gov.sg) or refer to the booklet, Information on Registration of Overseas Electors [PDF]. If you find yourself qualified to be an overseas elector and wish to cast your vote at any of the Overseas Polling Stations, do apply for registration now. If you happened to be an overseas elector registered in 2006, do note that with the REs having been revised, your registration is no longer valid. You are advised to apply for registration again if you meet the revised qualifying criteria to be an overseas elector.
With Best Regards,
REGISTRATION OFFICER
ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
11 PRINSEP LINK
SINGAPORE 187949
