What Is a Scrutineer?

A scrutineer is an independent party engaged to oversee the polling process at a company’s general meeting. Their role is to ensure that every vote is captured, counted and reported accurately, safeguarding transparency for shareholders and maintaining market confidence.

Regulatory Requirements in Singapore

  • SGX Listing Rule 730A mandates that each general meeting of a listed issuer must have at least one independent scrutineer.

  • All resolutions at AGMs and EGMs must be decided by poll rather than a show of hands.

  • The scrutineer must be impartial; anyone with an interest in a resolution must abstain from acting for that item.

  • Poll results, certified by the scrutineer, must be announced promptly on SGXNet once the meeting ends.

Key Duties of an Independent Scrutineer

  1. Before the Meeting

    • Review poll procedures, proxy forms and vote-counting methodology.

    • Inspect any electronic, hybrid voting or manual system to verify security and accuracy.

  2. During the Meeting

    • Observe the collection of ballot papers or monitor live e-voting feeds.

    • Validate voter eligibility, handle spoilt or rejected ballots and ensure proper segregation of “for,” “against” and “abstain” votes.

  3. After the Meeting

    • Tally and verify the final vote counts.

    • Issue a signed scrutineer’s report to the board.

    • Certify results for immediate release on SGXNet.

How to Choose the Right Scrutineer

When selecting a scrutineer, listed companies should look for:

  • Full independence from the board, management and major shareholders.

  • Proven familiarity with SGX Listing Rules and poll-voting best practices.

  • Technical competence in auditing electronic voting platforms (essential for virtual or hybrid meetings).

  • Adequate manpower and responsiveness to handle large shareholder turnouts and to deliver certified results within the tight post-meeting window.

Recommended Timeline for Engagement

  • Four to six weeks before the AGM/EGM – appoint the scrutineer and share draft poll procedures.

  • Within one week before the meeting – finalise proxy forms, scripts and vote-counting workflow.

  • Meeting day – the scrutineer supervises polling and validates results.

How Excellence Singapore Supports Your General Meetings

  • Independent scrutineer appointment — onsite, virtual or hybrid oversight that meets SGX Rule 730A.

  • Pre-meeting advisory — review of notices, proxy forms and polling scripts to eliminate procedural gaps.

  • Electronic-voting verification — checks on vote-capture integrity for hybrid & fully virtual AGMs.

  • Comprehensive certification — prompt issuance of the scrutineer’s report together with post-meeting analytics for the board.

Conclusion: Protect Shareholder Confidence with Professional Scrutineering

Accurate poll results are critical to corporate governance and market integrity. By appointing an experienced, truly independent scrutineer, public-listed companies demonstrate transparency and safeguard the voting rights of every shareholder.

Contact us to secure scrutineering services for your next AGM or EGM, or learn more about our comprehensive corporate governance solutions.