Registers of Electors to be updated, Hougang by-election looming?

In a government gazette announcement on Monday, the Elections Department (ELD) said it will be updating the Registers of Electors on 13 April.

Last year, the registers were updated four months and two weeks respectively before the Writ of Election was issued for the General Election and Presidential Election.

However, Nominated Member of Parliament and political observer Eugene Tan told Yahoo! Singapore that he does not see the update of the register as a clear sign that the Hougang by-election is imminent.

"I regard the updating exercise as an administrative routine to keep the register as accurate and updated as possible," Tan said.

Tan felt that the Hougang by-election is more likely to be held later rather than sooner, likely in the last quarter of the year.

"This will give time for the PAP to prepare itself so as to obtain as best an outcome as possible," he added.

The ELD will remove any elector where the Registration officer has reason to believe that the address of that elector has ceased to exist or ceased to be used as his place of residence or contact address.
It will also transfer names of electors to the appropriate Register of Electors if the person has notified the Commissioner of National Registration his change of address or contact.

These changes will be based on electors' NRIC addresses as of 19 March 2012.

Before the changes are effected, those who wish to inspect the list of electors' name can do so at the ELD between 27 March and 9 April. Electors may also check their particulars online or at any community centres or clubs in person with their NRIC or passport.