Elections Dept report police after discovery used ballot box
-
Elections Dept files police report after discovery of used ballot boxes
POSTED: 31 Aug 2013 7:02 AM
The Elections Department has lodged a police report after it received an email from a member of the public on Tuesday that some ballot boxes were found.
SINGAPORE: The Elections Department has lodged a police report after it received an email from a member of the public on Tuesday that some ballot boxes were found.
Issuing a statement close to midnight on Friday, the Elections Department nevertheless stressed that the discovery of used empty ballot boxes has "no implications on the secrecy of the vote and electoral process".
While it did not say which elections the discovered ballot boxes were used for, the Elections Department explained that empty ballot boxes are to be discarded after the elections.
"They are supposed to have been collected by the Elections Department's contractor, along with other discarded items, from the counting centres for general disposal," it said.
The discovery of used empty ballot boxes would mean that "these were missed by the contractor at the point of collection for disposal".
In response to media queries, the police confirmed a report was lodged. It said: "The persons interviewed by the police have told the police that the ballot boxes were empty when they found them, with no ballot papers inside. Preliminary investigations indicate that these were empty boxes left behind in the counting centre intended to be disposed of." The police said investigations are ongoing, "including confirming what has been uncovered thus far". It said it will address the Attorney-General's Chambers on the case upon completion of investigations.
Detailing how ballot boxes are used during elections, the Elections Department said that they are inspected by election officials at the polling stations before they are used for the casting of ballots. They then remain under the charge of the election officials until they are emptied at the counting centres.
After the polls have closed, election officials at the polling stations seal the ballot boxes containing the ballot papers which have been cast, and transport the sealed ballot boxes under police escort to the counting centres.
At the counting centres, the ballot boxes are opened, and the ballot papers are poured out, sorted and counted. The entire process is carried out in the presence of candidates or their counting agents. The empty ballot boxes are put aside to be collected by the Elections Department's contractor and disposed of. After the election result has been announced by the Returning Officer, the ballot papers and other documents used in the election are placed into separate boxes and sealed. They are then conveyed by police escort and retained in safe custody for six months at the Supreme Court.
"After six months, the ballot boxes are destroyed, unless directed by order of the President. The process is open to observation by all candidates and their agents. This rigorous process ensures secrecy of the vote," the Elections Department said.
Elections Department makes police report after empty ballot boxes found
The Elections Department (ELD) has lodged a police report after they were notified that some empty election ballot boxes have been found.
A member of the public alerted them to this via email on Tuesday.
According to socio-political site TR Emeritus (TRE), they seem to be ballot boxes from the Presidential Election two years ago, and appear to have come from the Electoral Division of Bishan-Toa Payoh and from 2 polling stations: Guangyang Secondary School and HDB Block 113 Void Deck.
In a statement issued on Friday, the ELD stressed that the discovery of the boxes have “no implications on the secrecy of the vote and electoral process”.
“They are supposed to have been collected by the Elections Department’s contractor, along with other discarded items, from the counting centres for general disposal,” the statement said.
“Discovery of used empty ballot boxes would mean that these were missed by the contractor at the point of collection for disposal,” it added.
In a separate statement, the police confirmed that a report on the matter has been lodged.
“The persons interviewed by the police have told the police that the ballot boxes were empty when they found them, with no ballot papers inside. Preliminary investigations indicate that these were empty boxes left behind in the counting centre intended to be disposed of,” it said.
It added that investigations are still ongoing, “including confirming what has been uncovered thus far, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers will be addressed upon completion of investigations”.
-
buried.
-
use ballot boxes for Xmas.
-
-
Long time ago de..
-
Le me think is recently when Clive last post in this topic
-
now can recycle for voting new santa, the current one at istana sucks.
-
xmas boxes recycling.
-
no recycling this xmas?
ho ho ho...
-
can use the box to cook rice dumplings
-
-
Originally posted by Mr Milo:
can use the box to cook rice dumplings
not yet dragon boast festival.
-
:D
-
boxing day coming.
-
*Boxes kengkia :lol:
-
put milo in a box.
-
*flows out :D
-
milo flow into KFC chicken old man.
-
new item on the menu: Milo sauce spread over Zinger Burger :lol:
-
milo sauce in burger?
-
Yes, melted milo powder
-
New Dish to be added to all food-related business (includes Ice-Cream). Anyone who buys two items in a shop will get an At the Bed lovers ticket to meet ATB.
-
atb lover tickets available in the boxes?
-
:lol: the boxes can be used to curry
-
atb love box.
By