SINGAPORE - Singaporeans who failed to cast their votes at the recent General Election have been removed from the registers of electors, the Elections Department (ELD) said on Thursday (Oct 15).

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

A total of 2,307,746 votes were cast in the Sept 11 polls. This is 93.7 per cent of the 2,462,926 registered electors.

Non-voters who wish to be able to vote at future elections should apply to have their names restored to the registers and state their reason for failing to vote, said the ELD.

Acceptable reasons include working overseas, such as being on a business trip at the time of polling; studying overseas at the time of polling; living with a spouse who is working or studying overseas; overseas vacation; and illness, or delivering a baby.

Without an acceptable reason, a $50 fee might have to be paid for one to be reinstated.

Singaporeans can check their elector status and apply to be restored to the registers of electors via four channels. They can do so online at ELD's website at www.eld.gov.sg, or 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.

ELD said it will inform all applicants of the outcome of their applications in writing.

Singaporeans who wish to vote at one of the designated overseas polling stations, are encouraged to register as overseas electors early via the above channels if they have not done so.

They must reside overseas, be listed in the registers of electors and have resided in Singapore for at least 30 days during the three-year period between Feb 1, 2012, and Jan 31, 2015.

Registration of overseas electors will close with the issue of the Writ of Election, said the ELD, and that re-registration as an overseas elector is required with each revision of the registers.