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DESPITE his disability, he has been able to design websites, go grocery shopping and even drive a car with his feet on the steering wheel.
But when polling day came around on May 7, Mr Tan Peng Hui, 39, found himself helpless.
On a day when history was made, with a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) falling to the opposition for the first time, the freelance web designer was almost turned away at the polling station by the presiding officer.
The former airline pilot has been unable to use both his arms following a motorcycle accident in Thailand in January 2006.
Excited about voting
Mr Tan, who lives in East Coast GRC, was excited about voting for the first time in an election. But he was also concerned that he would have problems at the polling station because he could not use his hands to mark a cross on the ballot paper.
He called the election hotline twice on May 5 and was repeatedly assured that officials at the polling station would assist him.
But when he arrived at the polling station at Temasek Junior College, the presiding officer told him he could not vote.
Mr Tan was accompanied by a friend, who carried his identity card and a doctor's letter on his behalf.
According to Mr Tan, the presiding officer said: "Are you sure you can't use both hands? Are you sure you can't use either hand?"
When Mr Tan said he could not use both his hands, the presiding officer replied: "Then no choice...you don't vote...reinstate your voting rights in a month's time."
Aghast, Mr Tan and his friend explained that they had checked with the election hotline, and that they had been told that officials would help them at the polling station.
There were relatively few other voters on hand when they arrived.
Mr Steven Shiu, the senior presiding officer who overheard the exchange, consulted another officer.
Eventually, it was decided that Mr Shiu would mark Mr Tan's polling slip on his behalf.
Disgruntled by the officers' attitude, Mr Tan wrote to the Elections Department via e-mail.
Mr Tan has learnt how to type with his feet due to his condition.
To aid him, he uses voice recognition software, as well as a trackball which he manipulates with his feet and a virtual on-screen keyboard with word prediction enabled.
Mr Tan said: "His (the presiding officer) comments were a bit cocky. Why were the officers so arrogant, especially the first officer, who acted as if we were taking up too much of his time?
"His attitude was one of, 'Well, you can't use your hands, what do you expect me to do?'
"Despite my physical condition, I am lucky to be able to voice my concerns.
Disturbed
"I am, however, greatly disturbed by the thought that many other citizens who are unable or feel too intimidated to access any channel of communication, will never be heard."
The Elections Department did not reply to queries, which were sent on May 9, from TheNew Paper.
But Mr Tan said he received a reply from the Elections Department last Wednesday, saying that they have looked into the case and that there could have been a misunderstanding.
He has since shown The New Paper a copy of this reply.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
