Every employer must allow all voters in his employ a reasonable amount of time to vote on Polling Day: Minister Chan

"With the support of employers and the 12-hour window for polling, all voters should be able to cast their votes even if they work on Polling Day, without extension of the polling hours", the minister said. 

Under Singapore's law, Polling Day of any General Election or Presidentail Election is a public holiday, Chan Chun Sing, Minister of Education, has clarified.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, Minister Chan was responding to a Parliamentary query (shared on the Elections Department's website) on whether polls can be opened earlier than the designated polling hours for workers who have to work on Polling Day, and can't cast their votes within the designated hours.

However, the minister acknowledged that some voters may still be required to work on election day. Thus, the opening of polls from 8am to 8pm, providing a 12-hour window for voting.

He said: "The law also provides that every employer must allow every voter in his employ a reasonable amount of time to vote."

The minister also reminded that employees who are required to work on Polling Day should make arrangements with their employers to enable them to vote during Polling Day.

"With the support of employers and the 12-hour window for polling, all voters should be able to cast their votes even if they work on Polling Day, without extension of the polling hours", he concluded.