GE: Extend campaigning period
-
Mar 29, 2011 - ST Forum
CAMPAIGNING is important in a general election because politicians would seek to reach out to their constituents and correspondingly canvass for votes on polling day.
Election campaigns serve a myriad of purposes.
First, voters would want to know more about the candidates contesting in their constituencies and their views. Even though new faces would have been unveiled in advance, constituents would know of the candidates in their areas only on Nomination Day. Campaigning also allows voters to interact with candidates, thus testing the latter's communication skills.
Second, campaigning allows voters to weigh the varying messages and manifestos put forward and make an informed decision. Dialogues on national concerns or policy recommendations would be more focused and increasingly substantive.
Finally, as the electoral battle intensifies, the candidate's and party's ability to deal with criticisms and rhetorical salvos under pressure will reveal their crisis management abilities.
Given these reasons, the 10-day minimum period for campaigning (which includes the eve of Polling Day, in which no campaigning is allowed), would be counter-intuitive.
A mere nine days is insufficient to explain policies and introduce new faces, and benefits the incumbents. Campaigning duties would be especially demanding for candidates in group representation constituencies, given the geographical spread and sheer number of residents.
A longer period for campaigning will also dismiss criticisms that parties are unwilling to have their policies or track records scrutinised and deliberated upon. With the proliferation of social media and the Internet, increased campaigning time will grant segments of grassroots Singaporeans who feel disenfranchised or hard done by a valuable opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction and opinions and have them heard.
It is only during a general election that the population is most sensitive, attuned and reactive to this multitude of sentiments.
A more viable period for campaigning would be between two and three weeks, which would grant candidates a minimum of two weekends to walk the ground and connect with the constituents.
It would also be a test for the parties and candidates to manage their manpower and resources, and increase their outreach productively and efficiently.
Kwan Jin Yao
-
The longer day of campaigning is not good for opposition.
PAP will have more time picking problems with oppositions.
-
Opposition parties should now apply for permit to put their banner across the street they are contestinig in. The public need to know who you are and how you look like.
Merely showing in the tv news is still not good enough.
Put the banner now.
-
Originally posted by likeyou:
Opposition parties should now apply for permit to put their banner across the street they are contestinig in. The public need to know who you are and how you look like.
Merely showing in the tv news is still not good enough.
Put the banner now.
You are not allow to put banners until Nomination Day.
Please read up before putting such request.
-
Originally posted by Clivebenss:
You are not allow to put banners until Nomination Day.
Please read up before putting such request.
Thanks bro, that is the disadvantage opposition facing ya.Seriously speaking, until now, I still dont know who is my opposition party at my area.
-
If banners are not allow yet, shouldnt they start to distribute flyers?
-
Originally posted by likeyou:
If banners are not allow yet, shouldnt they start to distribute flyers?
Unlike commercial flyers political flyers are not allowed too. The only media now is thorugh official media like newspapers, tv and radio if they want to report them or through open internet websites.
-
Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Unlike commercial flyers political flyers are not allowed too. The only media now is thorugh official media like newspapers, tv and radio if they want to report them or through open internet websites.
What the hack!Everything cannot, no wonder our opposition party are less known to the public.
Hey, how about those opposition paper? Can it be distrubuted to all the units free?
That shouldnt classified under flyers right?
-
Originally posted by likeyou:
What the hack!Everything cannot, no wonder our opposition party are less known to the public.
Hey, how about those opposition paper? Can it be distrubuted to all the units free?
That shouldnt classified under flyers right?
that's why they have to sell them, you can't give out free and they can't stuck one at your door or in your letterbox.
that is the politics here, get real.
-
Wow bro, too real liao.
Going thru news or radio or internet can only reach out certain group of educated pple. That left out another group of pple. Guess that opposition members need to work real hard and have more walkabout in their area.
-
Originally posted by likeyou:
Wow bro, too real liao.
Going thru news or radio or internet can only reach out certain group of educated pple. That left out another group of pple. Guess that opposition members need to work real hard and have more walkabout in their area.
Time and money.
They need to work to keep themselves alive too, no such luxury as mp which have a good allowances from the govt. That the edge the incumbents have.
-
Cannot hold a gathering in public to attract attention also. Will be branded an illegal gathering (as long as no police permit) and police will warn you to disperse, or arrest you. Even if you have less than 4 members, it still has the "ability to incite a riot".
CSJ filmed a youtube video of his group wearing matching T-shirts, warned by police and arrested.
-
Extend campaign period? You will get alot of lame excuses like "it is distracting and lowers productivity."
-
No use increasing the campaign period as many people have already made up their mind who they want to vote.
The Ruling party has 5 five years to work for the voters of their estate and if the voters see their rush in rectifying problems only in this past few months - Voters will feel disappointed.
-
Since all the odds are against the opposition as being discussed (see all the above), then why need the extend campaigning period?
Is it this time round, pap sense something not right...???
-
I think Singapore elections in 1960s used to have one month campaigning period.
After PAP came to power they shortened the campaigning period.