GE2025: Inside the set-up of one of Singapore's 1,240 polling stations

While candidates and their aides took a day off from campaigning on Cooling-off Day on May 2, election official Nicole Teo, 29, was hard at work setting up one of 1,240 polling stations in Singapore from as early as 9am.

As Singapore gears up for Polling Day on May 3, Ms Teo and 21 fellow election officials have been busy transforming the canteen of Bendemeer Primary School into a polling station. About 1,500 to 1,600 voters are expected to vote at the station for the candidates of their choice in Jalan Besar GRC between 8am and 8pm on May 3, says Ms Teo.

A senior presiding officer at the polling station, Ms Teo was also an election official in GE2020 and the presidential election in 2023. She and her team were seen putting up brightly coloured signage and instructions around the polling booth as well as attending team briefings on May 2.

Preparations began two years ago when she had to attend tutorials and training sessions, where she had to pass several quizzes.

One of the most challenging parts of her job is to know every role inside out. She told The Straits Times at a media interview at Bendemeer Primary School: "As a senior presiding officer, we need to have a very clear overview of all the different roles within the polling station."

Ms Teo is one of around 34,000 public service officers who have been deployed as election officials for GE2025, supporting nomination, polling and counting activities, said an Elections Department (ELD) spokesperson. Around 2.6 million Singaporeans are expected to cast their vote on May 3 at schools, void decks, community centres and Housing Board pavilions islandwide.

At the polling station, voters can expect bright yellow signage indicating the five stations that voters will have to move through, as well as arrows that indicate the flow of movement. Seniors, persons in wheelchairs and pregnant women can join a priority queue to cast their vote.

For smooth sailing on Polling Day, Ms Teo advises voters to dress comfortably and check for crowds at their polling station on the ELD website or on Singpass. She added: "It will be important to not turn up so early because the peak hours will probably be in the morning."

Ms Teo also recommends that voters use the self-inking "X" stamps as an "efficient" way to indicate their vote. However, they may also choose to bring their own pen or approach an election official to borrow a pen.

The election officials are well prepared for various weather conditions with water canisters, disposable raincoats and insect repellant spray on site for their use.

Ms Teo's work at Bendemeer Primary School on May 3 begins at 6am and she expects to knock off after 9pm. Like every other Singaporean on May 3, she will have to find time to vote between 8am and 8pm.