CANDIDATE FAQS

A person is qualified to be a candidate for election as a Member of Parliament (MP) if he:

• is a citizen of Singapore;
• is 21 years old and above on Nomination Day;
• is registered as an elector in the current Registers of Electors;
• is resident in Singapore on Nomination Day and has been so for a total period not less than 10 years;
• is not subject to any of the disqualifications specified in Article 45 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore; and
• possesses a sufficient degree of proficiency in spoken English, Malay, Mandarin or Tamil and, unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, be able to read and write at least one of the said languages so that he can take an active part in the proceedings of Parliament.

• Nomination Paper (in duplicate); and
• Political Donation Certificate (in duplicate).

• Nomination Paper (in duplicate);
• Political Donation Certificate for each candidate (in duplicate); and
• for a minority community candidate in a GRC, at least one Certificate of the Malay Community or Certificate of the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee (in duplicate).

An election deposit must be made before 12 noon on Nomination Day

The certificate issued by the Malay Community Committee certifies that a person belongs to the Malay community.

The certificate issued by the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee certifies that a person belongs to the Indian or other minority community.

There is no requirement for a Chinese Community Certificate at Parliamentary elections.

A Group Representation Constituency (GRC) has three to six MPs. Each GRC is designated to comprise one MP from

• the Malay community; or
• the Indian or any other minority communities.

This is to provide for minority representation in the Parliament.

The election deposit payable by a Parliamentary election candidate as determined under the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 is an amount equivalent to fixed monthly allowance payable to a Member of Parliament for the month immediately before the date of issue of the Writ of Election, rounded to the nearest $500.

The exact amount of the election deposit for an election will be specified in the notice of the Writ of Election issued by the Returning Officer.

An election deposit must be paid after the issuance of the Writ of Election and before 12 noon on Nomination Day.

The election deposit must be paid by electronic funds transfer (i.e. PayNow or bank transfer), bank draft, or by a cheque that has been certified by the drawee bank as good for payment of the sum stated on it (payable to “ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT”). Electronic payment is subject to the banking transfer limit set by the bank. Candidates may need to update the daily transfer limit accordingly via the online banking platform or app in order to pay the election deposit amount electronically.

Payment can be made any time after the issue of the Writ for the election but must be made before 12 noon on Nomination Day.

Candidates are encouraged to make payment early before Nomination Day. They may do so electronically or at ELD.

The election deposit will be returned to the candidate or person who paid for it on the candidate’s behalf, if:

• the candidate is elected as a Member of Parliament in the case of a Parliamentary election;
• the candidate withdraws his nomination;
• an election has wholly failed;
• the candidate is not nominated;
• the candidate dies before the start of the poll; or
• the candidate loses at the polls but gets more than one-eighth of the votes polled in the electoral division he contested in.

If a candidate is not elected and does not secure more than 12.5% of the votes polled, his election deposit will be forfeited and this will be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

An election agent manages and administers a candidate’s election expenses. He also assists the candidate to run for the election.

On Nomination Day, only the following persons are allowed to be present during nomination proceedings:

• the Returning Officer, his staff and any other person authorised by the Returning Officer;
• the nominees seeking to be candidates and their subscribers (i.e. proposers, seconders and assentors); and
• one other person.

In a Parliamentary election, person cannot be nominated in more than one electoral division, or more than once in the same electoral division. He must withdraw all but one nomination in person and before 12 noon. This is not applicable for a Presidential election.

The names of successfully nominated candidates will be gazetted after the close of nomination proceedings on Nomination Day. The gazettes on ELD website are here.

Candidates may do the following, with relevant permissions, licenses and permits by regulatory authorities and within the limits of the law:

• conduct walkabouts and house-to-house visits;
• distribute pamphlets, handouts and newsletters;
• publish manifestos;
• publish prospective candidate’s biographical details;
• use of private vehicles (whether mechanically propelled or otherwise) for election advertising purposes;
• organise election meetings;
• display posters and banners; and
• advertising on the Internet.

Candidates should conduct election campaigning in a responsible and dignified manner that befits the seriousness of the election process. Candidates should steer away from negative campaigning practices based on hate and denigration of opposing candidates. 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. As the outcome of Singapore’s elections is for Singaporeans to decide, candidates should ensure that their election campaign is free from foreign influence.

This is to ensure a level-playing field and prevent "money politics".

The maximum spending limit for election expenses is currently $4 for each elector on the Register of Electors for the electoral division that the candidate is seeking election to be a Member of Parliament (MP).

Under the law, election expenses refer to expenses incurred for the election. These may be incurred before, during or after the election.

Election advertising is defined under the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 as any material that can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or procure the electoral success at any election for one or more identifiable political parties, candidates or groups of candidates; or to otherwise enhance the standing of any such political parties, candidates or groups of candidates with the electorate in connection with any election. This includes prejudicing the electoral prospects at the election of other political parties, candidates or groups of candidates or (as the case may be) by prejudicing the standing with the electorate of other political parties, candidates or groups of candidates.

IEA refers to election advertising published on Internet platforms or using relevant communication services. This includes election advertising published on websites, social media platforms, chat rooms or discussion forums, content sharing services, or published using email, instant messaging services, SMS services or MMS services.

Yes, as long as candidates declare beforehand to the Returning Officer their use of paid IEA and adhere to the transparency requirements for paid IEA when publishing.

Candidates are required to submit an online declaration to the Returning Officer within 12 hours after the start of the campaign period, stating all the platforms they are using for IEA (whether paid or unpaid), and to subsequently declare any additional new platforms before using them. If candidates are publishing paid IEA, they need to additionally declare accordingly to the Returning Officer, and provide further information, including:

• the type of services used (e.g. advertisement on a social media platform, blog advertorial within a website);
• the publisher of the paid IEA;
• the period that the paid IEA will be available online; and
• the source of funding for the paid IEA, i.e. whether the IEA was paid for by the candidate, his election agent, his political party or any other person.

This is to ensure greater transparency and accountability on the candidates’ part. The expenses for authorised paid IEA would also count towards the candidates’ expense limits.

During an election period, any individual who is a Singapore citizen may publish IEA provided:

• it is in his personal capacity;
• he is not directed by others to do so; and
• he is not paid or did not pay to do so.

However, the publishing of any election advertising is prohibited on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day.

The Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations do not specify the dimensions of the relevant particulars (name of the publisher and the name of every person for whom or at whose direction the election advertising is published) to be displayed on the IEA, but the relevant particulars should be clearly displayed in the advertising. However, if the paid IEA is too small to include the relevant particulars in a legible manner, the IEA if clickable must allow the viewer to be taken to a landing or homepage that prominently displays the relevant particulars. If the IEA is not clickable, the relevant particulars must be prominently displayed on a clearly identifiable website that the election advertising was drawn from.

Candidates who use paid IEA have to ensure that the placement of the election advertising include a message or statement to indicate that the IEA has been sponsored, using words like “Sponsored by” or “Paid for by” and the name of the person who paid for the ad.

Candidates do not need to remove any IEA, paid or unpaid, put up before the campaign period as long as the required declaration is made from Nomination Day and the advertisement complies with the Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations. If candidates intend to use earlier published IEA during the campaign period, they would need to ensure that they declare the platforms or accounts used to the Returning Officer accordingly. For paid IEA, they would need to declare the period that the IEA would appear, the publisher and source of funding.

Under the law, candidates and political parties are allowed to buy a copy of the Registers of Electors and use the information to communicate with voters. However, they cannot use the information for commercial purposes.

Candidates who collect, use or disclose the personal data of individuals must comply with the provisions under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA). Candidates may also refer to the Advisory Guidelines on the Application of PDPA to Election Activities published by the Personal Data Protection Commission.

Posters and banners must only be written, printed, drawn or otherwise similarly depicted on paper, plastic, cardboard, cloth or other similar medium. All other types of posters and banners are not authorised to be displayed under the permit.

Before display, candidates must lodge a copy of each poster and banner with the Returning Officer.

The display of posters and banners must comply with the rules stated in the Returning Officer’s permit. Each poster and banner on display must

• not contain illegal content such as seditious materials or materials that may cause alarm and distress for such display of posters and banners;
• be affixed with a stamp issued by the Returning Officer and must display the name of the printer, publisher and the person at whose direction or for whom the election advertising is published;
• display clearly the symbol allotted to or selected by a candidate or group of candidates to avoid ambiguity or confusion to the voter; and
• comply with the size, the total number and the type and manner of election posters and banners that may be displayed.

Posters and banners may take the form of small or large election advertising. Small election advertising refers to posters and banners that can fit within an area of 1.75 metres by 1.2 metres. Large election advertising refers to banners that cannot fit within an area of 1.75 metres by 1.2 metres, but can fit within an area of 9 metres by 1.2 metres.

A flag that is triangular in shape (or of any other shape) is considered a small election advertising if it can fit within an area of 1.75 metres by 1.2 metres.

It is considered a large election advertising if it cannot fit within an area of 1.75 metres by 1.2 metres, but can fit within an area of 9 metres by 1.2 metres.

Multiple small election advertising can be displayed next or close to each other to form a large election advertising. Such large election advertising formed from multiple small election advertising must also fit within an area of 9 metres by 1.2 metres. In such cases, the large election advertising so formed must be affixed with a large stamp issued by the Returning Officer for large election advertising; and each small election advertising that forms the large election advertising must be affixed with a small stamp issued by the Returning Officer for small election advertising.

The limit on number of posters and banners that may be displayed in an electoral division will be stated in Returning Officer’s permit issued to candidates after the close of nomination proceedings.

The formulae to compute the maximum number of small and large election advertising is as follows:

Posters and banners can only be put up during the campaign period.

During and outside of the campaign period, the display of posters and banners is also regulated by the laws of the land.

The rules and regulations for posters and banners under the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 are effective only during elections. Outside of the election period, the display of party posters, banners, flags etc. are subject to other regulations and the approval of the premise owner.

No person shall display or cause to be displayed in any public place posters and banners without authorisation by the candidates or their election agents.

The Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 prohibits individuals below 16 years old from taking part in election activities during the period beginning with Nomination Day and ending with the start of Polling Day.

Thus, individuals below 16 years old are not allowed to appear in election advertising or take part in other activities to promote a political party or candidate/group of candidates during this period.

While this prohibition does not apply outside of this period, political parties should refrain from inappropriate use of individuals below 16 years old who will not fully understand what they may be promoting or subjecting themselves to.

Posters and banners are generally hung on street lamp posts and trees along public roads. They are not allowed at public buildings and infrastructure (e.g. MRT stations) and within a 50 metres radius from a polling station. If the location to display posters and banners belong to private owners, their consent must first be sought.

Car wraps are considered a form of poster or banner. As for all posters or banners, they must comply with the requirements in the Returning Officer’s permit, e.g. affixed with the Returning Officer’s stamp, not exceed the stipulated size, not travel outside of the contested constituency, etc.

Display of posters and banners on public infrastructure (e.g. MRT station) and public transport (e.g. SMRT buses/MRT) is not allowed.

Posters and banners must be removed within the period stipulated in the permit issued to candidates. Based on past elections, it is usually six days after Polling Day.

If you come across posters and banners which are suspected to be vandalised, you may file a Police report.

Candidates and election agents must obtain the shop owner’s consent first before displaying banners or posters at shop fronts or inside shops (if the inside of the shop is visible to members of the public). The display must also comply with the conditions listed in the Returning Officer’s permit.

The distribution of items for election advertising purposes during campaigning is allowed as long as they comply with the law.

For instance, candidates may distribute items during campaigning. These are typically small items, e.g. buttons, badges, pens, umbrellas, and other portable objects or articles of value less than $10 and of volume less than 10 centimetres x 10 centimetres x 10 centimetres. However, these items must not contain or display any false statement of fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of any candidate for the purpose of adversely affecting the electoral success of the candidate.

This is to give the political parties and candidates greater flexibility in the form of items (e.g. buttons, pens, diaries, key chains) that they can distribute to voters during the campaign period.

Political parties, election candidates and their election agents may put in a request to purchase the Registers of Electors using the Request to Purchase Registers of Electors form. Under the law, they can use the information recorded in the Registers (e.g. elector’s name and address) to communicate with electors. However, they must not use the information for commercial or other purposes.

Cooling-off Day is the day before Polling Day. During Cooling-off Day, campaigning is banned and election advertising must not be published. This is to allow voters to reflect rationally on various issues raised at an election before going to the poll.

Activities banned on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day

• publication and display of election advertising (those already published may remain, and for Internet Election Advertising there should be no sharing/re-sharing/re-posting/boosting);
• holding e-rallies and other livestreams;
• canvassing, walkabouts, door-to-door visits, visiting homes and workplaces of voters in connection with the election; and
• wearing, using, carrying or displaying campaign propaganda (only the candidate is allowed to wear a replica of the symbol allotted to him).

Activities allowed on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day

• reports in the newspapers, on radio and television relating to election matters;
• approved posters and banners that were already up, and lawful Online Election Advertising that was already in place before the start of Cooling-off Day;
• books previously scheduled for publication;
• private and domestic communications, such as individuals sharing election-related content within a private chat or closed group with family or a small group of friends; and
• candidates may continue to wear a replica of the symbol allotted to him.

The publication of the results of election surveys and exit polls before the close of polls is prohibited.

Voting at Singapore's elections is compulsory. It is as much a fundamental right of citizenship as it is a civic responsibility to be exercised by citizens to choose and elect their leaders in a democracy. All qualified electors must vote on Polling Day.

It is an offence for any person who by word, message, writing or in any other manner dissuade or attempt to dissuade another person from giving his vote at the election between Nomination Day and Polling Day (both days inclusive).

Unless granted permission by the Returning Officer, the only persons allowed to enter a polling station on Polling Day are:

• the Returning Officer;
• police officers on duty at the polling station and other election staff officially deployed at the polling station;
• voters assigned to vote at the polling station;
• the candidates contesting at the election in that electoral division; and
• the authorised polling agents for that polling station not exceeding the maximum number of and whose names have been notified to the election official.

Candidates contesting at the election and their polling agents are allowed entry into polling stations on Polling Day. Election agents who are appointed as polling agents may also enter the polling station.

Polling agents are appointed by candidates to observe polling proceedings. Each candidate (or group of candidates at a Parliamentary election) may have one polling agent for every 1,000 voters (or part thereof) allotted to vote at that polling station.

At the polling station on Polling Day, candidates and polling agents are allowed to:

• witness the sealing of ballot boxes before opening of the poll and at the close of the poll;
• keep track on who has voted;
• leave his place at the polling station. However, if he had been keeping track of voting, he must leave his documents at that polling station to ensure voting secrecy;
• ask an election official before the close of polls for the total number of voters who have voted at the polling station;
• observe the packing of election materials at the close of polls. They may also affix their seals or sign on the envelopes and the ballot boxes; and
• observe the transport of sealed ballot boxes from the polling stations to the counting centres.

At the polling station on Polling Day, candidates and polling agents are not allowed to:

• talk someone out of voting;
• compare notes on who has voted with the election officials;
• attempt to find out or reveal any information on voters;
• use handphones, video- and photo-taking devices; and
• smoke within a polling station.

The following persons are allowed to enter a counting centre:

• candidates contesting at the election and their counting agents (one per counting place);
• election officials; and
• police officers.

For Single Member Constituencies, only candidates and their election agents are allowed to enter the principal counting centre.

For Group Representation Constituencies, only candidates and their principal election agents are allowed to enter the principal counting centre.

For Single Member Constituencies, appointments must be done by either the candidate or the candidate’s election agent. Counting agents for Group Representation Constituencies must be appointed by either the principal election agent for that group of candidates or an election agent of any candidate in that group.

Each candidate may have only one counting agent to observe the counting at each counting place in a counting centre.

Activities candidates and counting agents are permitted to do at the counting centre:

• observe the counting process from behind the yellow demarcation line;
• give their views on a rejected ballot paper, but the decision of the Assistant Returning Officer is final; and
• affix their seals or sign on sealed ballot boxes after the announcement of results.

Activities candidates and counting agents are not allowed to do at the counting centre:

• interfere with the counting process;
• try to read the number printed on the back of a ballot paper;
• use handphones, video- and photo-taking devices in the hall where counting takes place. These are prohibited to safeguard the secrecy of the vote; and
• smoke within the counting centre.

The Returning Officer must conduct a recount of the votes if the difference between the number of votes cast is equal to or less than 2% of the total number of votes cast at the election. Under the law, only one recount is allowed.

There is no minimum legal age for polling and counting agents. However, a person appointed by a candidate or his election agent as a polling or counting agent must not be –

1. below 16 years old;
2. a person who has an order of supervision made against him/her under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act 1955; or
3. a foreigner.

Polling and counting agents can refer to the polling and counting agent guides available on the ELD website to understand their roles and responsibilities. ELD does not conduct training sessions for polling and counting agents.

Candidates are not allowed to spend above the stipulated limits. They are required to submit their returns on election expenses to the Returning Officer within 31 days after the publication of the results of the election.

The returns on election expenses are available for inspection for six months.

Candidates and members of the media are invited to witness the destruction of ballot papers after they have been kept for safe custody in the Supreme Court for six months after the election.

Due to space constraints, the Elections Department is unable to accommodate requests from members of the public to witness the process.

A permissible donor is:

• an individual who is a Singaporean Citizen and at least 21 years of age;
• a Singapore-controlled company; or
• in relation to a donation in the form of voluntary labour, an individual who is a citizen of Singapore when performing that labour; or
• in relation to an election candidate, any political party he is standing for at an election.

(A Singapore-controlled company refers to a company registered with the Registrar of Companies, the majority of its directors and members are Singapore citizens and carries on business wholly and mainly in Singapore.)

Donations include goods and services, money, property, subscription fees, affiliation fees or property and loan facilities provided on less than commercial terms.

An MNC in Singapore may be considered a permissible donor if the MNC is incorporated in Singapore, has its activities mainly in Singapore and the majority of its directors and members are Singapore citizens.

Donations from a foreigner cannot be accepted, even if they are channelled through a permissible source.

Any person who knowingly facilitates such channelling of impermissible donations may be charged.

The applicable cap on anonymous donations is up to $5,000.

Donations from foreign sources are prohibited. Thus, if the recipient knows that a donation is actually from a foreign source but disguised as an anonymous donation, he should not accept the donation.

Candidates should keep proper records of the political donations received which include maintaining a dedicated bank account to receive all political donations and taking the necessary steps to verify and record the source of each donation (i.e. donor’s full name, NRIC number and address as shown in his NRIC or where the donor is a company, the company’s name, Unique Entity Number (UEN) and registered business address, date of receipt of donation, recipient’s name, value of donation and description of donation), for both physical and online donations.

There is no specific prohibition under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 on the use of crowdfunding. Candidates should however provide an advisory on their crowdfunding platforms stating that donations may only be received from permissible sources.