Ritual and Identity Elections and Voting in Singapore

Abstract

According to recent press reports, the influx of migrants has been a source of much unhappiness among Singaporeans. Furthermore, this development could undermine Singapore's national identity in the long-term. To address this problem, the People's Action Party (PAP) reduced or removed housing, healthcare, and education subsidies noncitizens previously enjoyed. The rationale is to treat visitors well, but citizens better. However, this policy deals only with the symptom and not the cause of the influx problem. To strengthen national identity, this essay argues that having a more competitive electoral contest which allowed more Singaporeans to vote would be a more effective long-term policy. This essay views voting as a political ritual that differentiates citizens from noncitizens. This political ritual is necessary because it permits Singapore citizens to identify with the larger and often abstract political forces within the country. Yet, a detailed examination of Singapore's elections since 1968 indicates a general downward rend in the number of Singaporeans voting, as many seats are uncontested. Hence, this essay argues that a more competitive electoral process that honors the act of voting in its observance and not its breach is more effective in maintaining a strong and durable identity than a policy of increasing or decreasing subsidies, especially in view of demographic changes in Singapore.