There is a general election buzz in Singapore, as updated voter rolls have been announced and are open for public inspection from today. Also, two nominated Members of Parliament — one of them is Raj Joshua Thomas, a Person of Indian Origin — have resigned, giving rise to expectations that they might contest the polls, likely to be held in the second half of 2025.
In Facebook posts yesterday, nominated Singapore PIO MP Raj Joshua Thomas and nominated Singapore Malay MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi announced their resignations, and posted photos of their resignation letters, submitted to the Parliament Speaker.
Neither of them clearly said if they would contest this year’s general elections, but the wording of their letters hinted at their probable candidature.
Raj Joshua Thomas wrote: “In my letter to Speaker Seah Kian Peng, I said that ‘I remain dedicated to serving Singapore and Singaporeans to the best of my abilities. I am contemplating doing so in a different way, in which it would be appropriate for me to resign as an NMP at this time.’ I am grateful for the privilege and honour to have served as an NMP over two terms.”
Syed Harun Alhabsyi wrote: “I have learnt much in this journey and truly, it has been a great honour and my deep privilege to have served in this capacity. I am exploring [an] opportunity to do so in a different capacity.”
Thomas highlighted in his Facebook post that he had spoken up on issues that he felt were important, “including on uplifting the wages and dignity of low wage workers, fair employment opportunities for Singaporeans amidst global talent, and racial and religious harmony”.
How to check updated Singapore voter rolls
The resignation of the nominated MPs coincides with the Singapore voter roll updating and public inspection exercise.
In a media release dated 14 February, the Elections Department of the Singapore Government said: “The Registers of Electors have been revised and will be open for public inspection from 15 February 2025 to 28 February 2025. The revised registers contain the names of all qualified electors as of 1 February 2025.”
The release said: “Singapore Citizens may check their particulars in the registers electronically, via: (a) Voter Services (https://www.eld.gov.sg/online.html) at the Elections Department (ELD) website; or (b) “My Profile” on Singpass App.”
On voter eligibility, the release clarified: “As of 1 February 2025, a person is qualified as an elector if he is a Singapore Citizen, 21 years old and above, not disqualified as an elector under any written law and has a Singapore residential address or Local Contact Address (i.e. a residential address in Singapore that overseas Singaporeans register with Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority for voting purpose).”
Those unable to check the voter rolls online could carry out the inspection “at any Community Centre/Club or ServiceSG Centre, or at the ELD office by making an e-appointment via ELD website or calling 1800-225-5353”, said the release.
Overseas Singaporeans could check their voter roll particulars at Singapore overseas missions serving as overseas registration centres, said the release.
There is guidance in the ELD media release for checking the voter rolls online or offline.
Steps for checking the details through “My Profile” on the Singpass app have been explained pictorially in Annex A of the media release. Addresses of community Centres, clubs, and ServiceSG centres are listed in Annex B of the release. Addresses of Singapore overseas missions serving as overseas registration centres are listed in Annex C of the release.
After checking their particulars on the updated voter rolls, eligible voters can use online or offline channels, as explained in the ELD release, to submit their “claims and objections”. They can also request to have their names restored, in case their names were removed from the register of electors “for failing to vote at a past election”.
In a related report yesterday, The Straits Times said: “The registers were last certified in July 2024. There were a total of 2,715,187 electors in the certified registers then, an increase of 5,732 from the 2,709,455 electors at the last revision in July 2023, before the 2023 presidential election.”
ST said, quoting the Elections Department, that voters who wanted their names restored should apply for it quickly, as name restoration for the upcoming 2025 general elections would not be possible “once the Writ of Election is issued”.
