If you’re wondering why all the political candidates are keeping totally mum today, it’s because today is Cooling-off Day — campaigning and election ads are completely prohibited a day before Polling Day.
You’d think that this period of campaign silence is an old ruling, but it was actually only enacted in the last General Election in 2011. The election department states that the day is to allow voters to reflect rationally and weigh out their options before putting the X on their voting card.
Candidates are not allowed to engage in any activities concerning the elections — no visiting homes and workplaces of voters, no displaying of political propaganda, no election meetings, and so on. They’re even discouraged from visiting their constituents or even attend public events which would likely attract public attention.
Such is the reason why people have been outraged that Peoples’ Action Party candidate for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Vivian Balakrishnan allegedly went out and about today, according to States Times Review. Screengrabs of his tweet stating that he went out visiting families have been spreading around online — and the original post has since been deleted. An honest mistake probably, but one with very severe consequences.
For you voters however, the Election Department has published what to do and what not to do tomorrow when you’re heading out to vote. You can check out the guide on the Elections Department website beforehand, and try not to make any mistakes like what Vivian’s social media team this morning.
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