Abu Dhabi
The first Singaporean expatriate to vote from the Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Dubai for their country’s upcoming general elections will also be the first to do so worldwide, country’s envoy told Gulf News.
Dubai’s Consulate of Singapore is officially the first overseas polling station in the Middle East that will enable Singaporean residents to vote for their country’s upcoming elections, which are set for September 11, Umej Bhatia, Singapore’s Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News.
“Embassies in Dubai, the United Kingdom and the United States will, however, have early voting on September 10 given the vast time differences. But of all these three countries, Dubai has the least time difference with Singapore.”
“This means that whoever casts their vote from the Consulate in Dubai will be the first Singaporean to have undergone their right of political participation worldwide,” he explained.
Another reason behind instigating the early voting initiative is to ensure that residents have 12 hours (8am-8pm) to cast their vote just as Singaporeans back home are entitled to. This wouldn’t have happened if the elections were to take place on Friday due to time differences, he added.
In previous elections, nine polling stations were selected for Singaporeans residing abroad to vote from, he added.
This year, there are ten stations across the globe whereby electors can flock to in order for them to practise their political right of voting, with Dubai being the latest addition and the first in the Middle East.
“In previous years, a Singaporean had to either be proximate to countries such as Japan, China, US, Tokyo, among others, to be able to vote, or fly back to their home country to do so,” he added.
However, according to Bhatia, Dubai is synonymous with accessibility and connectivity as well as the fact that it owns one of the best established airports worldwide that welcomes a profusion of nationalities. This option should hopefully further streamline the voting process, particularly for those who would like to vote from abroad but are unable to do so due to not having a designated mission in their respective countries.
This is also testament on how the two countries are at the forefront of political participation, he added. “Emiratis living abroad can vote from the UAE embassy in Singapore and Singaporeans living in the UAE can vote from the consulate in Dubai.”
When asked about the significance of this year’s upcoming general elections in Singapore, Bhatia said: “This year’s elections are a watershed since they will not witness our founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who has always been a key part of these elections.”
Bhatia’s main priority throughout this year’s elections is to ensure the process is as smooth as possible, particularly given that it is the first time voters in the Middle East are participating.
Bhatia urges all Singapore residents here who have been registered to practise their right of voting. Residents must get their passports or identity card and their polling card to be able to cast their votes, he said.
— Maisoon Mubarak is a trainee at Gulf News.
