Guide to the General Election in Singapore

Summary

The script provides a detailed overview of the electoral process for general elections in Singapore. It explains the sequence of events starting with the President dissolving Parliament and the returning officer issuing election notices. Key steps include nomination day, campaign periods, polling day, and vote counting. The process emphasizes the roles of candidates, voters, and election authorities, including procedures for contested and uncontested constituencies. It also touches on the cooling-off day, overseas voting, and the final declaration of results after all votes, including overseas ballots, are counted.

Takeaways

• 😀 The General Election (GE) in Singapore occurs approximately once every five years.
• 😀 The President, advised by the Prime Minister, dissolves Parliament to call for elections.
• 😀 The Returning Officer (RO) is in charge of overseeing the elections in Singapore.
• 😀 The RO issues a notice of election, detailing the date, time, and place for candidate nominations.
• 😀 Candidates must present their relevant documents on nomination day, accompanied by their subscribers.
• 😀 If a constituency is uncontested, the RO declares the candidate(s) elected as Members of Parliament (MPs).
• 😀 In contested constituencies, an election poll is held on a later date, with candidates and their symbols listed.
• 😀 Campaigning is allowed from nomination day until the day before polling day, including rallies and advertising.
• 😀 The day before polling day is designated as cooling off day, during which campaigning is prohibited.
• 😀 Voters cast their votes on polling day, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., either in Singapore or at overseas polling stations.
• 😀 After the polls close, ballot boxes are sealed and transported to counting centers, with a sample count announced across media platforms.
• 😀 The RO compiles the results, and if overseas votes impact the election outcome, they are counted before the final result is declared.
• 😀 The final results are published in the Singapore Government Gazette, and Parliament convenes at a time appointed by the President.

Q & A

What triggers the start of the general election process in Singapore?

The general election process in Singapore begins when the President, advised by the Prime Minister, dissolves Parliament and issues a Writ of Election to the Returning Officer (RO).

What role does the Returning Officer (RO) play in the election process?

The Returning Officer (RO) oversees the election process, including issuing notices of election, handling candidate nominations, managing polling stations, and compiling and declaring the results.

How are candidates nominated during a general election in Singapore?

Candidates are nominated on nomination day by presenting the required documents and being proposed by subscribers. If a constituency is uncontested, the candidate is declared elected immediately.

What happens if a constituency is uncontested during the election?

If a constituency is uncontested, the Returning Officer declares the nominated candidate as elected without the need for a vote.

What is the cooling-off day, and why is it significant?

The cooling-off day is the day before polling, during which all campaigning activities are prohibited to ensure voters make their decisions without external influence.

What activities are allowed during the campaigning period leading up to polling day?

Candidates may campaign through rallies, online and offline advertising, and by utilizing limited air time provided by TV stations during the period between nomination day and the cooling-off day.

How are votes cast on polling day in Singapore?

On polling day, registered voters cast their votes between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM at designated polling stations. Overseas voters vote at allocated overseas polling stations.

What happens to the ballot boxes after polling stations close?

After polling stations close, the ballot boxes are sealed and transported to counting centers for vote tallying.

How are election results announced in Singapore?

The Returning Officer announces a sample count after the polls close and, once all votes are tallied, declares the candidate or group with the most votes as elected. The results are officially published in the Singapore Government Gazette.

How do overseas votes affect the election results?

If overseas votes impact the outcome of the election, the results are delayed until these votes are counted. If not, the results are declared based on the domestic votes alone.