New Citizens: voters of the future
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From 2005 to 2010, 150,000 PRs have been granted citizenship. This is a huge political force.
Firstly, consider the impact on voter numbers. A typical GRC has 140,000 voters, an SMC has 22,000. In each constituency, 1% works out as 1,400 and 220 voters respectively. It is easy to see how new citizens spread across our country have huge influence.
Secondly, consider who is eligible to vote. There were 2.98 million Singapore Citizens in 2000, but only 2 million citizens voted in 2001. Almost 1 in 3 Singapore Citizens are not eligible to vote, they are underage or overseas. By definition, most New Citizens come to Singapore as adults, and they are present in Singapore to vote. This increases the impact of new citizen votes.
Thirdly, consider the vast information resources the government has. Singapore is divided into 27 electoral divisions, in turn divided into small areas reporting to various polling centres. When votes are counted, is this information edge not formidable, and available to the best brains in the government? The government builds new flats, which will house foreigners too, and can decide which open field in which neighbourhood to place them in. They have already signalled their intention to prevent PRs from congregating in "enclaves", and want to "spread them out". Add to this the power to redraw boundaries at every election.
Finally, considering the younger generation is not PAP-spoonfed and always ready to investigate the truth for themselves online, is it coincidental that the core of old, uneudcated and LKY-era voters are passing away, just as the PRs are being granted citizenship? There are three forces in politics today. When the old generation passes away, there will be two.
What do you think? Is this election your "last chance"? If you think so, spread the word to vote opposition. Every vote counts.
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My virginity. (walkovers + overseas trip)
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Its not last chance, its more like lost cause.
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10 years down the road, these new citizens will start complaining like the rest of us about newer citizens replacing them and why the incumbent party keeps taking advantage of them.
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Originally posted by charlize:
10 years down the road, these new citizens will start complaining like the rest of us about newer citizens replacing them and why the incumbent party keeps taking advantage of them.
Some of them are planning to return home, even when their country disallow reclaiming citizenship, they have lots of backdoors to sneak back.
Their investments back at their homeland is worth millions, calculated in their own currency, they will not stay and die here, they will stay and kill us all before returning to their homeland as millionaires.