SINGAPORE - Those eligible to vote at the recent Bukit Batok by-election but failed to do so have been removed from the registers of electors, the Elections Department (ELD) said on Wednesday (May 18).

Known as non-voters, they will not be able to vote or stand as a candidate at future elections if their names are not restored to the registers.

The certified list of non-voters is available for inspection at the ELD from Thursday (May 19).

A total of 24,224 votes were cast at the May 7 polls, which made up 94.16 per cent of the 25,727 registered electors in the single-seat ward. The People's Action Party's Murali Pillai beat Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan with 61.2 per cent of the votes.

Non-voters who wish to regain their right to vote can apply to have their names restored to the registers via four channels.

They can do so online at the ELD's website, with their NRIC or passport at community centres and clubs, at Singapore overseas missions that serve as overseas registration centres, or at the Elections Department itself.

Non-voters who were registered overseas electors - 20 of the 52 registered electors in Bukit Batok failed to cast their votes - and who still wish to cast their votes overseas at future elections should also re-register as overseas electors.

Re-registration as an overseas elector is also required with each revision of the registers of electors, ELD added.

The restoration of non-voter names will close with the issue of the writ for an election.