Over 85% of eligible voters cast ballots in PE 2023 As of 5 pm

SINGAPORE: With just three hours remaining until the conclusion of the 2023 Singapore Presidential Election, the Elections Department has provided an update.

As of 5 p.m. on Friday (September 1), a total of 2,302,996 Singaporeans, representing approximately 85 per cent of eligible voters, have cast their votes.

The polls began at 8 a.m., and the Elections Department (ELD) advises those who have not voted yet to ensure they have enough time to do so before the polls close at 8 p.m.

The three candidates in contention are Mr Ng Kok Song (75), the former GIC investment chief; Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (66), a former senior minister of the People’s Action Party; and Mr Tan Kin Lian (75), the former NTUC Income chief.

Tan Kin Lian and Ng Kok Song were captured by the media as they made their way to the polling station this morning.

Morning queues and system errors challenge smooth start to the PE 2023 poll

Some hiccups arose this morning, including long queues formed at polling stations across the island before they officially opened at 8 a.m.

For instance, at the void deck of Block 307 Jurong East Street 32, a queue of approximately 100 voters had already formed.

Similarly, at Yangzheng Primary School in Serangoon, around 60 voters were in line by 8:10 a.m.

By 9 a.m., roughly 200 people were queuing at Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School.

Reports from The Straits Times indicated system errors occurring throughout Singapore. At Bukit Timah Community Club, election officials informed voters that the registration system was lagging, causing slow-moving lines.

The Elections Department acknowledged these issues in a statement at 8:40 a.m. and recommended that voters consider arriving later in the day.