Singapore rules out overseas voting in election

SINGAPORE Home Minister Wong Kan Seng Tuesday told the parliament that there are no plans to introduce overseas voting in the forthcoming presidential election.

Answering a question from a parliament member when the parliament sat Tuesday afternoon, Wong said he estimates from experience that only about 3.5 percent of electors are likely to be overseas for various reasons and they will be dispersed in many countries and many locations. Many overseas electors are not living or working close enough to one of Singapore's 26 missions abroad to go there for voting, he said, adding that voting at the overseas missions would probably not effectively reach the majority of overseas Singaporeans.

Singapore plans to hold the presidential election in August. Wong said the government recognizes that this is not a static situation and the case for overseas voting may change as more Singaporeans will work abroad as a result of economic globalization.