Get live updates on Polling Day, and results after polls close at 8pm.

SINGAPORE - With three candidates having been successfully nominated for the Presidential Election 2023, Singaporeans will go to the polls on Sept 1.

On the slate are former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song, 75, former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, and former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian, 75.

Polling Day has been declared a public holiday, with polling stations open for voting from 8am to 8pm.

Here are six things to know ahead of Polling Day.

1. Singpass will be accepted

For the first time, voters will be able to use the Singpass app to verify their identity at polling stations.

In the past, such as at the 2020 General Election, this verification was done using the physical National Registration Identity Card (NRIC).

All voters will also be sent an ePoll card which they can access via the Singpass app. The card contains information such as their polling station address, and voter serial number.

Those who do not have a Singpass account, though, can still choose to use their pink NRIC and the physical poll card. Voters will receive the poll card at their latest residential address registered with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.

2. More polling stations and officials, shorter wait time

More polling stations will be set up, which will cut waiting time for voters.

The ELD has planned for 1,264 stations, up from the 1,097 during GE2020. With the increase, the number of voters allocated to each station will be reduced to an average of 2,150, from 2,400 before.

Each polling station will also have more registration counters and ballot paper counters. Around 36,000 election officials will be deployed, compared with 30,000 previously.

3. Checking the queues

For those still worried about long queues, the VoteQ website will let voters check the queue status at individual polling stations on polling day.

During GE2020, when it was first used, voters had to remember the URL and key it in to access the site. This time, voters can access VoteQ via a hyperlink on their ePoll card on the Singpass app.

They can also scan a QR code on their physical poll card.

4. New stamp for voters to mark their choice

A new X-stamp will be introduced for voters to mark their ballot – one that is wider and more clearly intended to serve as a stamp.

Use of this stamp, while encouraged, is not compulsory. Voters can take along their own pens.

Self-inking pens were first introduced at GE2020. Then, some voters had tried to write a cross with the X-Pen.

5. Overseas postal voting allowed, envelopes should be postmarked

At the upcoming polls, voters living overseas will now be allowed to vote by post, instead of having to vote in person at Singapore missions in selected cities.

Postal voters can download their postal ballot paper and return envelope from the Elections Department’s (ELD) voter services function on its website using the Singpass log-in.

One thing to note: Return envelopes need to be postmarked before polling day on Sept 1. This is necessary to ensure the vote was cast before the results of the local vote counts are known.

It is suggested that postal voters in certain regions or countries affix postal stamps on their return envelopes to ensure that they are postmarked.

These locations are: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Ghana, India, South Korea and Taiwan.

Postal voters are encouraged to mail their envelope back early, as it must reach the custody of the Returning Officer in Singapore by Sept 11 to be accepted for counting, said the ELD.

Overseas voters who have registered to vote in person at the overseas polling stations have been sent their ePoll letter indicating the polling date and hours for their station. A copy of this letter is also accessible on ELD’s website using Singpass.

The 10 overseas polling stations are in Beijing, Canberra, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington, DC.

6. Special polling stations in nursing homes

Special polling stations will be set up at 31 nursing homes for this year’s presidential election.

The pilot initiative, meant to facilitate voting by seniors, will be rolled out in nursing homes with more than 50 voters each, and will benefit 4,087 voters in all, the ELD said.

The nursing homes involved in the pilot are:

• Bright Hill Evergreen Home
• Bukit Batok Care Home
• Econ Care Residence (Henderson)
• Grace Lodge
• Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens
• Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital
• Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital @ Potong Pasir
• MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang
• NTUC Health (Chai Chee)
• NTUC Health (Geylang East)
• NTUC Health (Jurong Spring)
• NTUC Health (Jurong West)
• NTUC Health (Pasir Ris)
• NTUC Health (Tampines)
• Orange Valley Nursing Home (Clementi)
• Orange Valley Nursing Home (Marsiling)
• Orange Valley Nursing Home (Simei)
• Pacific Healthcare Nursing Home II
• Ren Ci @ Ang Mo Kio (Nursing Home)
• Ren Ci @ Bukit Batok Street 52 (Nursing Home)
• Senja Care Home
• SNM Nursing Home @ Chong Pang
• Society for the Aged Sick
• St Joseph’s Home
• St Andrew’s Nursing Home (Henderson)
• St Andrew’s Nursing Home (Queenstown)
• St John’s – St Margaret’s Nursing Home
• Tampines Care Home
• The Salvation Army, Peacehaven Nursing Home
• THK Nursing Home @ Hougang
• Woodlands Care Home