Experts Say General Elections Could Happen in June This Year & Here’s Why

Here’s the question of the day: Will the elections still be held amidst the Covid-19 pandemic?

According to experts, it just might, and it could be in June 2020.

Experts Explain Why They Think Elections Could Be Held in June 2020

Political observers that ST spoke to furnished a few reasons why they think the GE will be held in June this year:

The Covid-19 Special Arrangement Bill

On 7 Apr, Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing proposed the Parliamentary Elections (Covid-19 Special Arrangements) Bill in parliament.

Basically, the bill proposed the following special measures:

• People who are on Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) can vote off-site at the facility they’re staying at;
• Candidates who are unfit or not well enough to file the nomination papers themselves can nominate a representative to do it for them.

This bill will only apply to the next General Election and not any GE after that.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said this bill will have to be debated at the next parliamentary sitting (likely to be in May 2020) before it is passed.

Election Department (ELD) Released Electoral Boundaries

Back on 13 Mar 2020, the ELD announced the electoral boundaries for the upcoming General Election.

Based on past track records, parliament is usually dissolved soon after the boundaries are released.

In 2015, Parliament was dissolved 32 days after the boundaries report was released, and in 2011, 54 days.

In 2001, it was dissolved just a day after the report was released.

A Lot Of Goodwill From Three Support Packages

Associate Professor Bilveer Singh from the National University of Singapore estimates that parliament will be dissolved and a writ of election issued after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

It ends on 24 May 2020.

He pointed out that with $60 billion given to Singaporeans to deal with the fallout of Covid-19, they have managed to garner a lot of goodwill with the people.

Not Likely To Be Held In The Same Year

Political observer Mustafa Izzuddin said he does not think that the current government will wait until the next year to hold the elections.

The GE has to be held by 14 Apr 2021 and it’s not “common practice” for the government to hold the GE the year their term is going to end.

He added that the government seems to want to get everything else out of the way and focus on battling Covid-19.

“Political leaders have also given indications that they would prefer to hold the election sooner so they can focus on “battling the pandemic, bringing back normalcy to Singapore, and ensuring the economy picks up quickly and jobs are protected post Covid-19.”

Will Anything Stop The GE From Happening in June 2020

Well, turns out, there’s one.

It depends on whether the circuit breaker measures work.

If the measures did not manage to slow down transmission and the number of infections remains high, it could backfire if they were to force the GE upon Singaporeans.

“If infection numbers are still high, Singaporeans may well take the view that an election is an unnecessary risk to take and the People’s Action Party government is putting public health at risk. That could backfire on the ruling party.”

So I’d guess that even amidst this trying times, we do have one consolation: the ruling party wants Covid-19 infections to drop ASAP, just like us.

Which means, those usual market spoilers (read: that dude who cheated TRF to get $500) better be careful because the government will be coming down hard.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the opposition parties don’t even have a chance to appeal themselves to voters now. What with rallies usually being grand affairs and all.