The campaign period commences after nomination proceedings end on Nomination Day and ends with the start of the eve of Polling Day (i.e. Cooling-off Day).
Candidates should campaign for election in a manner that is dignified and decorous, that befits the seriousness of the election process. Candidates should steer away from negative campaigning practices, i.e. the denigration of opposing candidates and any other practices that may be provocative. Candidates should also not make false statements, for example, unfounded allegations of corruption or commission of criminal offences, or statements that may cause racial or religious tensions, or affect social cohesion. They must also ensure that their campaign is free from foreign influence. Egregious acts of negative campaigning could also be in breach of the law.
Election-related activities can only be conducted by candidates, election agents or third parties authorised in writing by candidates or their election agents.
The modes of campaigning can be categorised into the following:
Candidates may generally engage in the following activities during the campaign period, subject to them obtaining the relevant licences or permits from other regulatory authorities or the Returning Officer accordingly and within the limits prescribed by law:
- conduct walkabouts and house-to-house visits;
- distribute pamphlets, handouts, newsletters;
- publish manifestos;
- publish candidate's biographical details;
- use private vehicles (whether mechanically propelled or otherwise) for broadcasting of election messages;
- organise election meetings;
- publicly display Traditional Election Advertising (TEA), i.e. non-online election advertising in the form of a banner, flag or poster. For further information, refer to the details on TEA on the Physical Campaigning webpage; and
- publish Online Election Advertising (OEA), i.e. election advertising that is published in any way that renders the election advertising accessible from the Internet. For further information, refer to the Online Campaigning webpage.
Local free-to-air television and radio channels will give airtime for Party Political Broadcasts. Political parties and candidates who intend to distribute or publicly exhibit films must submit them to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for classification. For further information, refer to the TV, Radio & Films webpage.
To ensure transparency and accountability, published-by requirements will apply to all paid and unpaid election advertising. An exception to the published-by requirements applies to Singapore citizens, who are not candidates or election agents, and who publish OEA at no other person’s direction and on no other person’s behalf, and did not receive or agree to receive payment for such publication. These individuals will continue to be exempted from the published-by requirements.
To ensure a level playing field and to prevent ‘money politics’, the law imposes a maximum spending limit for election expenses. For further details, refer to the Election Finance webpage.