General Election 2020
On 10 July 2020, Singapore held its General Election (GE) 2020 amidst the world’s worst pandemic. Over 2.5 million Singapore citizens cast their votes at 1,100 polling stations across the country. In view of the pandemic, a slew of safe management measures was introduced to ensure safe distancing and good hygiene. With guidance from your econs tutor Singapore in your econs tuition Singapore class, discuss what it means to Singaporeans to have the General Election in the midst of a global pandemic.
Safe Management Measures At GE 2020
As part of the safe management measures, the number of polling stations was increased from 880 in the previous GE in 2015 to 1,100 this year. This means each polling station would serve an average of 2,400 voters, down from 3,000 voters in the previous GE. Each eligible voter was assigned a two-hour window to vote at their designated polling stations, as indicated on their polling cards, which were mailed out to their registered residential address weeks before the Polling Day. Extra measures were taken to protect the elderly. Elderly voters were given morning slots when the queues were expected to be shorter. They could also join the priority queue to shorten their waiting time. Other measures included temperature checking points, provision of hand sanitisers and disposable gloves, as well as 1m demarcation on the floor. In discussion with your econs tutor Singapore in econs tuition Singapore, explain the possible economic implications of a political event such as the General Election. You may sign up for econs tuition Singapore with a reputable econs tutor Singapore should you need help in this subject.
Despite the increased number of polling stations, the queues this year were visibly longer as compared with the previous elections due to the various safe management measures. As a result, the voting hours, which were originally from 8am to 8pm, were extended to 10pm. Edmund Quek is the best econs tutor Singapore who is renowned for incorporating real world events such as the General Election into his econs tuition Singapore. The econs tutor Singapore conducts econs tuition Singapore at his econs tuition Singapore centre located within 5 minutes’ walk from the Bishan MRT Station. You may visit his website at www.economicscafe.com.sg to find out more about his econs tuition Singapore.
Best Showing By Workers’ Party
This year’s GE marked the best showing by the Workers’ Party (WP). Besides its traditional stronghold of Hougang SMC (Single Member Constituency), WP made history in this GE by clinching two GRCs (Group Representation Constituency). They are Aljunied GRC, which WP won in the 2011 GE and lost in the 2015 GE; and Sengkang GRC, a new battlefield closely watched this year. The newly formed Sengkang GRC was contested by WP team comprising economics professor Jamus Lim who famously campaigned about “denying PAP a blank cheque” during his live debate with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on TV. The WP team was set against their PAP counterparts led by Minister in Prime Minister’s Office and labour chief Ng Chee Meng. In the end, the WP team walked over with 52.13 per cent of the votes. In consultation with your econs tutor Singapore in your econs tuition Singapore class, elaborate on WP’s manifesto.
The Progress Singapore Party led by its party chief Dr Tan Cheng Bock who was a former PAP MP and former candidate for the Presidential Election also put up a good showing in the West Coast GRC, finishing with 48.31 per cent of the votes. This made the West Coast GRC one of the most intensely contested constituencies.
A total of 2.535 million voters or over 95.6 per cent of eligible voters cast their votes, the largest turnout since the 1997 GE. Overall, the People’s Action Party (PAP) secured 61.24 per cent of the votes and 83 out of a total of 93 seats in Parliament.
Linda Geng
Economics Tuition Singapore @ Economics Cafe
Principal Economics Tutor: Mr. Edmund Quek