Dear fellow true blue Singaporeans,
It is really now or never. Even if you have not been affected so far, look around you. Do you know of any Singaporeans suffering? Are you sure you will stay safe for the next 5 yrs? 10 yrs?
From the reactions of the incumbent, it is rather apparent that they have been caught off-guard by the reactions from the ground.
The old campaign tactics have not been well received unlike in previous years. Smear campaigns. Threats. Carrots.
In the past, it is usually just a handful of people in a few contested constituencies that are dissatisfied. That is easily solved with Gerry-Mandering. Just split those people up. Absorb them into other GRCs.
But, this round, the dissatisfaction is spread all over Singapore. If we are not careful, if we leave the hard decisions to other people in other constituencies thinking that their alternative MP can speak for us while we enjoy our new paint in our own, what do you think will happen?
It is only a matter of time before PR's of other Nationality will be allowed to vote. Unfair?? But when are elections ever fair?
Look at the figures. There are now more than 5 million residents n Singapore. Yet only 2.4 million are going to the polls this sat and this includes new citizens! Born and bred Singaporeans are already the minority.
If PRs of other nationality gets to vote, you will never have the chance to get your own voice heard through votes again. Policies will be fashioned to please the majority voters who mostly are unfortunately not really here to stay for life.
If you think it is impossible, unimaginable that PRs holding other passports will ever get to vote, read on. There are already many countries, including Hong Kong and South Korea that allow foreigners to vote. But note that unlike us, their born and bred citizens outnumber the foreigners.
Think again. Think hard. Vote wisely. Don't just leave it to others. You may not get another chance when you get marginalized.
Argentina
Article 61 of the Constitution of the city of Buenos Aires states that "Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and not accumulative. The foreign residents enjoy this right, with the correlative obligations, on equal terms with Argentine citizens registered in this district, in the terms established by the law."
Chile
The 1980 Chilean Constitution states in its article 14 that "Foreigners residing in Chile for more than five years and who comply with the requirements prescribed in the first paragraph of Article 13, may exercise the right to vote in the cases and in the manner determined by law.". Article 13 states that "Citizens are those Chileans who have reached the age of eighteen years and who have never been sentenced to afflictive punishment.".[31] A 2005 constitutional reform introduced a second line to article 14, by which eligibility rights of naturalized citizens only occur 5 years after being granted a naturalization card.
Colombia
In 1991, the constitution was changed to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, but the changes were not immediately implemented.[8] On July 31, 2006, Colombia approved voting by foreigners for mayors and city council elections. To vote, foreigners must have been residents of Colombia for 5 years and must register with the electoral authorities. Voting is not compulsory and voting aliens have the same voting-related privileges citizens would.
Denmark
(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens with a 3 years residence condition for municipal and county elections in 1977. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 1981. In 1995, the 3 years residence requirement was abolished for EU residents, in conformity with the European legislation, and also for Nordic residents.
Finland
(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens without residence condition for municipal elections in 1981. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 1991 with a 2 years residence condition. In 1995 (Law 365/95, confirmed by Electoral Law 714/1998), the residence requirement was abolished for EU residents, in conformity with the European legislation.[38] Section 14, al. 2 of the 2000 Constitution of Finland states that "Every Finnish citizen and every foreigner permanently resident in Finland, having attained eighteen years of age, has the right to vote in municipal elections and municipal referendums, as provided by an Act. Provisions on the right to otherwise participate in municipal government are laid down by an Act."
Greece
(EU member) EU residents have voting and eligibility rights for local and European elections. In 2010, these rights were extended for local elections to the other foreigners, but with severe administrative restrictions.[49] As a result, only 12,762 foreign residents out of a potential electorate of 266,250 actually registrered to vote for the November 2010 local elections.[50]
Hong Kong, China
Voting is a relatively recent right in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, initiated only towards the end of the British colonial period (1842–1997) and enlarged[citation needed] somewhat after the handover to the People’s Republic of China. For this “special administrative region”, the right to vote accompanies a person’s permanent resident status in Hong Kong, not their citizenship.[53]
The right of Hong Kong permanent residents to vote is guaranteed in Article 26 of the Basic Law, where nationality is not even mentioned. And as stipulated in Article 24, permanent residents include foreign persons who have taken up permanent residency in Hong Kong for more than 7 years and other persons (regardless of nationality) who have right of abode in Hong Kong only.
While voting by persons holding foreign passports has gone largely unchallenged, there is some indication that increasing appeals to patriotism may make non-citizen voting an issue of debate in the future.[53] For those who are permanent residents of the territory but not concurrently citizens of the People's Republic of China, their permanent residency will be lost if they leave the territory for more than 3 years
Iceland
Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens with a 3 years residence condition for municipal elections in 1986. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 2002 with a 5 years residence condition.[38]
South Korea
Revisions to voting laws in 2005 allow foreign nationals aged 19 years and older who have lived in South Korea for more than three years after obtaining permanent resident visas to vote in local elections. 6,746 foreign residents (out of more than 1 million) were eligible to vote in the May 31, 2006 local elections.[77]
Sweden
(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to all foreign residents with a 3 years residence condition for municipal and county elections in 1975. The 3 years reside condition was suppressed in 1997 for residents from EU (in conformity with the European legislation) and the Nordic Passport Union. The voters enrolment is automatic.[38]
It is really now or never. Even if you have not been affected so far, look around you. Do you know of any Singaporeans suffering? Are you sure you will stay safe for the next 5 yrs? 10 yrs?
From the reactions of the incumbent, it is rather apparent that they have been caught off-guard by the reactions from the ground.
The old campaign tactics have not been well received unlike in previous years. Smear campaigns. Threats. Carrots.
In the past, it is usually just a handful of people in a few contested constituencies that are dissatisfied. That is easily solved with Gerry-Mandering. Just split those people up. Absorb them into other GRCs.
But, this round, the dissatisfaction is spread all over Singapore. If we are not careful, if we leave the hard decisions to other people in other constituencies thinking that their alternative MP can speak for us while we enjoy our new paint in our own, what do you think will happen?
It is only a matter of time before PR's of other Nationality will be allowed to vote. Unfair?? But when are elections ever fair?
Look at the figures. There are now more than 5 million residents n Singapore. Yet only 2.4 million are going to the polls this sat and this includes new citizens! Born and bred Singaporeans are already the minority.
If PRs of other nationality gets to vote, you will never have the chance to get your own voice heard through votes again. Policies will be fashioned to please the majority voters who mostly are unfortunately not really here to stay for life.
If you think it is impossible, unimaginable that PRs holding other passports will ever get to vote, read on. There are already many countries, including Hong Kong and South Korea that allow foreigners to vote. But note that unlike us, their born and bred citizens outnumber the foreigners.
Think again. Think hard. Vote wisely. Don't just leave it to others. You may not get another chance when you get marginalized.
Argentina
Article 61 of the Constitution of the city of Buenos Aires states that "Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and not accumulative. The foreign residents enjoy this right, with the correlative obligations, on equal terms with Argentine citizens registered in this district, in the terms established by the law."
Chile
The 1980 Chilean Constitution states in its article 14 that "Foreigners residing in Chile for more than five years and who comply with the requirements prescribed in the first paragraph of Article 13, may exercise the right to vote in the cases and in the manner determined by law.". Article 13 states that "Citizens are those Chileans who have reached the age of eighteen years and who have never been sentenced to afflictive punishment.".[31] A 2005 constitutional reform introduced a second line to article 14, by which eligibility rights of naturalized citizens only occur 5 years after being granted a naturalization card.
Colombia
In 1991, the constitution was changed to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, but the changes were not immediately implemented.[8] On July 31, 2006, Colombia approved voting by foreigners for mayors and city council elections. To vote, foreigners must have been residents of Colombia for 5 years and must register with the electoral authorities. Voting is not compulsory and voting aliens have the same voting-related privileges citizens would.
Denmark
(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens with a 3 years residence condition for municipal and county elections in 1977. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 1981. In 1995, the 3 years residence requirement was abolished for EU residents, in conformity with the European legislation, and also for Nordic residents.
Finland
(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens without residence condition for municipal elections in 1981. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 1991 with a 2 years residence condition. In 1995 (Law 365/95, confirmed by Electoral Law 714/1998), the residence requirement was abolished for EU residents, in conformity with the European legislation.[38] Section 14, al. 2 of the 2000 Constitution of Finland states that "Every Finnish citizen and every foreigner permanently resident in Finland, having attained eighteen years of age, has the right to vote in municipal elections and municipal referendums, as provided by an Act. Provisions on the right to otherwise participate in municipal government are laid down by an Act."
Greece
(EU member) EU residents have voting and eligibility rights for local and European elections. In 2010, these rights were extended for local elections to the other foreigners, but with severe administrative restrictions.[49] As a result, only 12,762 foreign residents out of a potential electorate of 266,250 actually registrered to vote for the November 2010 local elections.[50]
Hong Kong, China
Voting is a relatively recent right in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, initiated only towards the end of the British colonial period (1842–1997) and enlarged[citation needed] somewhat after the handover to the People’s Republic of China. For this “special administrative region”, the right to vote accompanies a person’s permanent resident status in Hong Kong, not their citizenship.[53]
The right of Hong Kong permanent residents to vote is guaranteed in Article 26 of the Basic Law, where nationality is not even mentioned. And as stipulated in Article 24, permanent residents include foreign persons who have taken up permanent residency in Hong Kong for more than 7 years and other persons (regardless of nationality) who have right of abode in Hong Kong only.
While voting by persons holding foreign passports has gone largely unchallenged, there is some indication that increasing appeals to patriotism may make non-citizen voting an issue of debate in the future.[53] For those who are permanent residents of the territory but not concurrently citizens of the People's Republic of China, their permanent residency will be lost if they leave the territory for more than 3 years
Iceland
Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens with a 3 years residence condition for municipal elections in 1986. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 2002 with a 5 years residence condition.[38]
South Korea
Revisions to voting laws in 2005 allow foreign nationals aged 19 years and older who have lived in South Korea for more than three years after obtaining permanent resident visas to vote in local elections. 6,746 foreign residents (out of more than 1 million) were eligible to vote in the May 31, 2006 local elections.[77]
Sweden
(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to all foreign residents with a 3 years residence condition for municipal and county elections in 1975. The 3 years reside condition was suppressed in 1997 for residents from EU (in conformity with the European legislation) and the Nordic Passport Union. The voters enrolment is automatic.[38]
