About 840,000 voters, or 31 per cent of registered voters, have cast their votes at polling stations in Singapore as of noon, the Elections Department (ELD) said.
It said that the voting time-bands from 8am to noon are reserved for senior voters aged 65 and above to minimise their interaction with younger voters.
While queues were seen at some polling stations, voters who turned up early described a fast and smooth voting process earlier in the day.
The ELD had arranged for measures to ensure the safety of voters amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As many as 2.65 million Singaporeans are expected to vote in the general election. They will cast their votes at 1,100 polling stations across the country.
A total of 10 opposition parties and one independent candidate are challenging the ruling People’s Action Party in this election, where Singaporeans will pick 93 Members of Parliament.
Seats in all 17 GRCs and 14 SMCs are being contested. No ballot papers will be issued after polling closes at 8pm.
Special measures were introduced at polling stations to ensure the safety of voters amid the coronavirus pandemic, especially the elderly.
Family members voting at the same polling station may accompany the senior to vote, but only one accompanying family member will be accorded priority voting, along with the senior voter.
Seniors who are unable to vote in the morning time-bands may do so after 12 noon, and will still be placed in a priority queue and given assistance by election officials if needed.
A special voting hour for those who are sick or are serving their Stay-Home Notice at home will take place between 7pm and 8pm.
At polling stations, the temperature of each voter will be recorded. Those with a temperature of 37.5 deg C and above will be turned away, and asked to return during the special voting hour.
Voters are also required to sanitise their hands and to wear gloves before receiving their ballot papers, while the ELD said that polling equipment will be sanitised regularly.
This election also marks the introduction of self-inking pens following feedback in previous elections that some voters, especially seniors, had difficulty gripping regular pens to mark their votes.
The pens allow voters to easily mark an “X” on the ballot paper by applying pressure, like a chop.
Voters may also bring their own pens to mark the ballot papers if they wish.
