The 2020 General Election (GE2020) has focused the spotlight on younger voters.
In its preliminary assessment of the election results, the People’s Action Party (PAP) acknowledged that it could have lost some support among this segment of the electorate.
While it pointed out that voters in their 20s and 30s made up only a third of eligible voters, with first-time voters aged between 21 and 24 making up less than 10%, they may have had a greater impact in some constituencies compared to others.
It is clear younger voters are an increasingly important demographic. So, there is a need to ensure their strong engagement in GE2020 translates into a more literate voting population that can offer meaningful views and solutions critical for Singapore’s future.
In order to do this, one must examine how younger voters appear to have approached the election.
Firstly, many younger voters seemed to desire a greater diversity of voices in Parliament and more robust debate on policies and issues. The opposition’s call for checks and balances against the powerful PAP government and a possible “opposition wipeout” probably resonated strongly with them. Even Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged in the PAP’s post-election press conference that “Singaporeans want the PAP to form the government, but they, and especially the younger voters, also want to see more opposition presence in Parliament.”
A poll of 1507 voters conducted by Blackbox Research during the campaign period reveals that 75% of Gen Z (21-24) and 67% of Millennials (25-39) agreed that “more choice for voters was good for Singaporean’s democracy, even though some [parties] have no real experience in Government”. This contrasted with just 58% of Boomers (60+) who agreed with the statement.
Secondly, younger voters appeared to disapprove of the hard-line tactics that were utilised effectively by the PAP in the past. This was apparent even before the election was called when PAP candidate Tan Wu Meng questioned Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh for allegedly supporting poet Alfian Sa’at’s critical comments about Singapore.
Fiona Chan, Head of Analytics at Singapore Press Holdings, noted in a viral Facebook post that the PAP’s messaging was based on implicit threats that a greater opposition presence would seriously compromise its ability to govern, thereby endangering Singapore’s success.
On the other hand, the WP offered an aspirational message, with Chairman Sylvia Lim’s argument that Singapore can do better in the “intangibles” such as transparency, kindness, fairness and happiness.
This message was conveyed effectively in the party’s social media campaign which emphasised authentic and personal stories. The Blackbox poll shows that social media was the top news source for Gen Z (21-24) voters, in particular.
Younger voters lauded the party’s teaser video, which has been shared over 2000 times on Facebook since its release. Social media also played a huge role in promoting Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chief Tan Cheng Bock, who is 80, as a “woke” “hypebeast” and “influencer ah gong”.
Thirdly, younger voters appear to have a different approach to sensitive issues such as race and religion, traditionally fenced off by so-called “OB Markers”. When two police reports were filed against Sengkang GRC WP candidate Raeesah Khan for her past criticisms of allegedly racist double-standards in law enforcement, the PAP swiftly called on the WP to state its stand on her posts.
Online, however, Ms Khan gathered immediate and growing support, with the hashtag #IStandWithRaeesah trending quickly on social media. The Blackbox poll showed that she was the most talked-about candidate in the online space.
This mindset appears to parallel the findings of a 2019 IPS report on attitudes towards religion, which found that younger respondents aged 18-25 were more tolerant of robust expressions of views online and on social media, as long as they do not instigate harm on others.
While the filing of the police reports on Ms Khan’s comments may have been expected, given their controversial nature, Associate Professor Kenneth Paul Tan of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy observed in a Vice News interview that “the cost of playing this game in this way is to demoralize young and optimistic Singaporeans who want Singapore to be better.”
Clearly, this would not be a good outcome for Singapore because this key demographic will continue to be important to Singapore’s political development.
The youth momentum generated by GE2020 must, therefore, be built upon. Academics Cherian George and Donald Low noted in a recent commentary on Academia SG that “most Singaporeans will be unable to sustain their current levels of interest in politics, no matter how excited they are by the prospect of change”.
If so, all political parties should strive to translate the social media hype produced during the campaign into a sustainable and meaningful political dialogue. With younger voters poised to lead society in the future, it is critical that parties engage them now in the wider process of everyday governance and the work that goes into effecting changes on the ground and in public policy. Memes and fan cams can only do so much.
The Government can facilitate such engagements by welcoming constructive feedback from “loving critics” as Professor Tommy Koh has urged, recognising that an open and robust contestation of ideas is vital for Singapore’s very survival as an exceptional country. The WP’s Pritam Singh also stressed on election night that the party “will remain loyal to Singapore and all Singaporeans” even as it scrutinises the PAP’s policies in Parliament.
It is important, therefore, that the country promotes greater political literacy among younger voters, so they can channel their energies effectively within our institutions. The enhanced opposition presence in Parliament could usher in more lively debates, providing an excellent educational opportunity for younger voters – and those too young to vote – that party youth wings and schools should maximise.
Perhaps parliamentary debates in our 14th Parliament could be made accessible via online livestreaming. This will enhance the understanding and appreciation of governance institutions and legislative processes among young digital natives.
Finally, we must accommodate the reality that politics may no longer be confined to political parties and Parliament. Parties and state institutions should relook their current feedback channels and be more willing to discuss sensitive issues openly with diverse participants rather than within select groups behind closed doors.
This will be a powerful demonstration of trust in the maturity of younger voters seeking a greater voice. A rugged citizenry that is strategic and savvy in confronting challenges, especially regarding sensitive issues, will be integral to protecting Singapore’s national interests in this age of uncertainty.
Dhevarajan Devadas is a research assistant at the Institute of Policy Studies.
Top photo from Unsplash.