Masked Singapore locals come out to cast vote in 'new normal' style

 | Updated: Jul 10, 2020, 12:26 PM IST

Singapore has joined the list of countries that are conducting general elections amid the pandemic. The voting booths are open from 8 am till 8 pm and the locals are being urged to exercise their right to vote, but with face masks, gloves and social distancing.

The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) is expected to carry Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to another comfortable, and probably final victory.

Voting in the pandemic

Singaporeans wearing masks and gloves reached the polling stations to cast their ballots on Friday under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic that is pushing the city-state's economy towards its worst-ever recession, making saving jobs the focus of the election.

(Photograph:AFP)

Clad in face shields, election officials enforced safe distancing rules and took voters' temperatures as they entered polling booths.

Clad in face shields, election officials enforced safe distancing rules and took voters' temperatures as they entered polling booths.

(Photograph:AFP)

The morning session was mainly reserved for the elderly to prevent overcrowding.

The morning session was mainly reserved for the elderly to prevent overcrowding.

(Photograph:AFP)

Social distancing was enforced by all the volunteers

Social distancing was enforced by all the volunteers. Marking were made on floors of all the polling booth and the voters were asked to stand only at the markings and avoid any contact with anyone else.

(Photograph:AFP)
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Limited time only

Voters are expected to spend no more than five minutes in a polling station, where they will self-scan identity cards, sanitise their hands and pull on disposable gloves before receiving a ballot paper.

(Photograph:AFP)

The queues were longer than expected at some polling booths

While officials had hoped it would take voters no more than five minutes to cast their ballot, lines formed initially outside some polling stations, where people said they waited up to an hour.

(Photograph:AFP)

Lee Hsien Loong, Ho Ching came to cast their vote

Singapore's Prime Minister and secretary-general of the ruling People's Action Party Lee Hsien Loong and his wife, Ho Ching, also came out to cast their vote.

(Photograph:AFP)

Indians make up 8.5 per cent of the population

"Indians make up 8.5 per cent of the population," said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam to a local media house. He also said that many of the Indian MPs are ministers, including Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah.

As the party has not nominated any new candidates, Shanmugam said there were nine Indian MPs from the PAP in the last Parliament, which is about 10 per cent of the House.

(Photograph:Twitter)