Clothing and accessories featuring Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s campaign symbol deemed inappropriate at polling stations.
SINGAPORE: Several voters were turned away from polling stations on Sept 1 for wearing or carrying items adorned with pineapple prints, the campaign symbol of Presidential candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The Elections Department (ELD) had earlier reminded voters to avoid bringing any items that could be construed as campaign materials.
In its advisory, the ELD warned that election officials could refuse entry to voters wearing attire or carrying items that might influence others. “Voters should refrain from wearing attire with images or carrying items to the polling station that may be construed as influencing other voters or canvassing support for any particular candidate,” the statement read.
One woman wearing a pineapple-patterned top was stopped at Woodlands Ring Primary School’s polling station and advised to return home to change before casting her vote. Another voter carrying pineapple-themed jewelry faced a similar situation and had to change her attire.
A netizen shared that she was almost turned away for carrying a handbag with a three-dimensional pineapple design, which she said she grabbed without considering the implications. “I haven’t used this bag in a long time. I just grabbed it without thinking,” she wrote on social media.
By 5 p.m., the ELD reported that about 85% of voters had cast their ballots. Sample count results were expected around 10 p.m., as Singapore awaited the outcome of its Presidential Election.
