The Party is NOT the Government :: YOUR VOTE IS SECRET

Yesterday, Chronically Unaware had the opportunity to speak to a new citizen (from the People's Republic of China) working in A*star. She was a reasonable woman, highly educated, and drew quite a handsome salary from the taxpayer. 

We had the chance to exchange our views on the elections, and she was initially adamant that she would vote for the PAP. When I asked her why so, she said, and I quote: 

"How can a good, honest, loyal, patriotic people vote against the Government? Wouldn't voting for the opposition parties be an act of TREASON? (emphasis our own). I am afraid I will lose my job and my citizenship if I do not vote for the PAP."

Chronically Unaware would like to remind voters, both Singaporeans and new citizens, that there is a distinction between Party and Government. The People's Action Party is in Government today, but that is because the people have given them a mandate in the past elections. The rakyat (people) have the power to vote the PAP out of the Government at any election. 

YOUR VOTE IS SECRET. The serial number on your ballots are there to ensure the integrity of the vote, so that fraudulent activity such as ballot box stuffing and the improper disposal of uncounted votes can be prevented. Counted ballots are placed in boxes which are locked up in a vault in the Supreme Court building for 6 months before being incinerated, the process of which is witnessed by representatives of all stakeholders, including all political parties taking part in the election. THE VAULT CANNOT BE OPENED FOR THE BALLOTS TO BE CHECKED UNLESS A SUPREME COURT ORDER IS ISSUED. SUCH AN ORDER HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED SINCE SINGAPORE'S FIRST ELECTION IN 1948. 

Chronically Unaware urges voters to judge each candidate running in their constituency fairly based on their individual merits, and not that of the party they belong to. Vote for the candidate who you think can best represent you in Parliament.