PM Lee announced a new system yesterday to help voters cast votes in rationally. From the next election onwards, which is expected to be in 2011, there would be a "cooling day" on the eve of Polling Day.
In a press interview, PM Lee said that campaigners will not be allowed to campaign on the eve so emotions would not get the better of the voters. Instead, they day of reflecting would help the voters think through the situations, weigh the pros and cons, reflect, rationalize and walk into the voting room in a calm and steady state of mind.
Many voters still recall the past elections where everyone is overwhelmed with emotions and rush in a disorderly manner to cast their votes. The whole situation was extremely disorderly.
The reflection on the eve would help alleviate the problem of disorderliness because the voters are in a calm mindset, and would cast their votes rationally.
This voting system has already been adopted in countries like Sweden and America where the "cooling period" extends to up to 2 to 3 days.
However, there is "grey area", quipped PM Lee, "the internet" where parties can post their messages and points on websites to campaign. But on the whole, the "cooling day" would act as a spirit of reflection for the voters to vote in a rational manner.
Opposition parties seem to be very unhappy with the new system. Unanimous opposition was being expressed over this issue.
Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang pointed out that the PAP can especially turn to TV to campaign, by disguising it as 'news' items from the Government.
'This will effectively give the ruling party an extra day of campaigning to the disadvantage of the opposition,' he said.
The opposition also argues that Singaporeans are rational voters and that opposition rallies are not prone to pose public disorder concerns, after arguments by PAP members that the voters would have time to think through rationally after an exciting campaigning and cast their votes calmly.
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