System issues create long waits, but the situation improves throughout the day
On the morning of September 1, 2023, long queues formed at several polling stations across Singapore as voters arrived early to cast their ballots in the Presidential Election. The queues, which began forming before the 8 am opening, were exacerbated by technical problems with the e-registration system, causing delays at multiple locations.
At polling stations such as the void deck of Block 307 Jurong East Street 32, Yangzheng Primary School, and Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School, long lines of voters were seen waiting for over 40 minutes due to system malfunctions. Some polling stations experienced queues of over 100 voters before the polls officially opened, with reports of over 200 people waiting at Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School by 9 am.
The Elections Department (ELD) responded with advice for voters to consider casting their ballots later in the day, when queues were expected to be shorter. The ELD acknowledged the technical issues, noting that they were progressively resolving the e-registration malfunctions at affected stations, including Kuo Chuan and Balestier’s Ministry of Education headquarters.
Despite the initial disruptions, by late morning, the situation improved, and most polling stations reported shorter wait times. Voters, including those in their 50s and seniors, were also given priority in separate queues to expedite the process. Chloe Woon, a 38-year-old communications professional, shared her experience of queuing for 40 minutes at Yangzheng Primary School. Another voter at Katong Community Centre, known as Neo, noted the slow scanning of ICs, which contributed to her 45-minute wait.
As the day progressed, the situation calmed down, with the ELD assuring voters that the queues were manageable and advising everyone to head to their polling stations at any time before closing.
