The Elections Department (ELD) has begun the process of notifying around 50,000 public officers of their duties as election officials for the upcoming General Election, according to a report by CNA.
These officers will be appointed and trained to oversee nomination, polling, and counting activities. However, the ELD did not specify how much time would elapse between the notification period and the actual election being called.
The General Election must be held by November 23, 2025, but the exact date remains uncertain. In the past, public servants were called up for training around 24 months before the last election in 2020. For GE2015, the timeframe was 18 months, while for GE2011, it was 12 months, and for GE2006, it was 31 months.
Several events must occur before a general election can take place. First, an Electoral Boundaries Review Committee must be established. After that, Parliament must be dissolved, and the President must issue the Writ of Election. Nomination Day must then occur between five days and one month from the issuance of the Writ of Election. Parties can start campaigning after Nomination Day, and a “cooling-off day” will be in effect to allow voters to reflect before going to the polls. Finally, Polling Day will take place, followed by a sample count and a subsequent vote count.
Ballot papers and other documents will be kept for six months after the election to ensure the confidentiality of the vote before being destroyed. The ELD’s meticulous planning and preparation for the General Election demonstrate the department’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process.