On 25/05/2013,
you requested for the version in force on 25/05/2013
incorporating all amendments published on or before 25/05/2013.
The closest version currently available is that of 15/04/2011.
56C.
—(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if at any time before the polling day appointed in respect of an election in an electoral division, it appears to the Returning Officer that, in relation to the electoral division, the polling at all polling stations established for the purposes of the poll in the electoral division is likely to be obstructed, disrupted, undermined or seriously affected because of —
(a)
riot or open violence;
(b)
the threat of riot or open violence;
(c)
storm, tempest, flood or an occurrence of a similar kind;
(d)
a health hazard;
(e)
a fire or the activation of fire safety equipment (such as sprinklers or alarms); or
(f)
any other reason related to the safety of presiding officers, clerks, interpreters, polling agents or voters within the polling station, or to difficulties in the physical conduct of voting,
which has arisen or is likely to arise before or during the polling at all of those polling stations, the Returning Officer may postpone the polling day for that election to another day, except that the postponed poll for an election that is a general election must be within 3 months after the dissolution of Parliament.
[10/2010]
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if at any time before or during the conduct of polling in respect of an election in an electoral division, it appears to the Returning Officer that, in relation to the electoral division, the polling at any polling station established for the purposes of the poll in the electoral division is likely to be obstructed, disrupted, undermined or seriously affected because of —
(a)
riot or open violence;
(b)
the threat of riot or open violence;
(c)
storm, tempest, flood or an occurrence of a similar kind;
(d)
a health hazard;
(e)
a fire or the activation of fire safety equipment (such as sprinklers or alarms); or
(f)
any other reason related to the safety of presiding officers, clerks, interpreters, polling agents or voters within the polling station, or to difficulties in the physical conduct of voting,
which has arisen or is likely to arise before or during the polling at that polling station, the Returning Officer may, subject to subsection (3), do one of the following:
(i)
temporarily suspend the polling at that polling station for a period not exceeding 2 hours, with or without changing the location of that polling station;
(ii)
adjourn and postpone the polling at that polling station to another day, with or without changing the location of that polling station;
(iii)
wholly abandon and re-start the polling at that polling station on another day, with or without changing the location of that polling station;
(iv)
terminate the polling at that polling station early; or
(v)
in the case of polling at an overseas polling station, abandon the poll at the polling station if he is satisfied that polling thereat cannot start or be resumed or completed.
[10/2010]
(3) Any poll at an overseas polling station, if resumed or held in place of a postponed poll thereat, must close not later than the close of the poll on polling day in Singapore, and any poll held in place of a postponed poll at any polling station for an election that is part of a general election must be held within 3 months after the dissolution of Parliament.
[10/2010]
(4) In exercising any power under subsection (1) or (2), the Returning Officer shall —
(a)
by notification published in the Gazette declare the temporary suspension, adjournment, postponement, abandonment, re-start, or early termination (as the case may be) of polling at the polling station concerned and, where applicable, specify the date and time on and at which polling at that polling station is to resume, re-start or be held in place of the suspended, adjourned, postponed or abandoned poll, as the case may be; or
(b)
if publication under paragraph (a) is not practicable, by notice published in such manner as will secure adequate publicity in the electoral division for which the election is to be held for the temporary suspension, adjournment, postponement, abandonment, re-start or early termination (as the case may be) of the polling and, where applicable, the date and time on and at which polling at that polling station is to resume, re-start or be held in place of the suspended, adjourned, postponed or abandoned poll, as the case may be,
and any postponement, resumption, re-start or other change so made shall be valid and sufficient and any date or place provided for in lieu of a date or place fixed by the notice of contested election shall be deemed to be the polling day or polling place so fixed, as the case may be.
[10/2010]
(5) If, in exercising any power under subsection (2), the Returning Officer changes the location of any polling station, the notice given under subsection (4) shall also contain the address of the re-located polling station.
[10/2010]
(6) Any temporary suspension, adjournment, postponement, abandonment, re-start, or early termination (as the case may be) of polling at a polling station pursuant to the exercise of any power under subsection (1) or (2) shall be carried out in the prescribed manner.
[10/2010]
(7) Nothing in this section shall restrict the exercise of any power under section 50C(3).
[10/2010]