(Singapore, July 31, 2023) Most first-time voters aged 21 to 33 understand the roles and functions of Singapore’s elected President, but are less clear about the head of state’s relationship with the Government, Parliament and the Cabinet, a local face-to-face survey has revealed.
The survey, conducted with 1,500 Singapore citizens aged 21 to 33 by CNA and TODAY between May 18 and June 23, finds that they were generally less clear about whether the President has the power to change existing laws and the elected President’s relationship with political parties.
All of the respondents are eligible to vote in a presidential election this year for the first time.
In contrast to the questions on the roles and functions of the elected President, where there was a generally high level of awareness, fewer respondents were able to answer most of the questions on the relationships correctly.
While some 67% of respondents knew that the elected President generally takes instructions from the Cabinet, some 64% did not know that the elected President does not take instructions from Parliament.
Only some 58% knew that the Cabinet does not take instructions from the elected President. Only 51% knew that Parliament does not take instructions from the elected President.
Singapore could see its next presidential election in the coming month or so, with former Deputy Prime Minister and Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song and founder of Harvey Norman Ossia George Goh having jointed the election race so far. The Presidential Elections Committee will assess the eligibility of each candidate to stand for election.
The last contested presidential vote was in 2011. President Halimah Yacob assumed the role in 2017, after an uncontested election that was reserved for candidates from the Malay community. Her term expires on Sept 13 this year.
