In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan discussed the mechanism of the first reserved presidential election in Singapore, which will take place this September. He noted that the reserved election is not the silver bullet in our quest to ensure that no racial group is shut out of the presidency, adding that if Singaporeans continue to vote along racial lines, no amount of constitutional engineering can remove a racial or even a racist mindset and disposition in electoral behaviour. Hence, the reserved election should instead function as a “nudge” in encouraging candidates and the electorate alike to think of how their electoral behaviour and their votes can entrench multiracialism. As part of our assessment of a candidate’s overall merit, we should consider the candidate’s commitment and contributions to multiracialism, in addition to their qualifications, expertise and experience, he stressed.

While he said that the reserved election seeks to ensure that multiracialism continues to thrive, it is also a measure of last resort. He emphasised that we would have made significant progress as a nation-state if this September’s election can be the last reserved election.