Entry to the premises (i.e. the Nomination Centre) where the Nomination Place is located will be granted from 10 am.

The Returning Officer will allow candidates, their subscribers (i.e. proposer, seconder and up to eight assentors), one other person appointed in writing by each candidate (if any) and supporters entry into the Nomination Centres from 10 am.

Entry to the place where nomination proceedings take place (i.e. the Nomination Place) will be granted from 10.30 am to eligible persons.

On Nomination Day, only the following persons will be allowed to enter the Nomination Place (typically a hall or auditorium located in a Nomination Centre) for that election:

1. the Returning Officer, his staff, and any other person authorised by the Returning Officer;
2. the persons seeking to be candidates and their subscribers (i.e. proposer, seconder and assentors); and
3. the one other person (if any) appointed by a candidate.

A person seeking to be a candidate for election as a Member of Parliament may be refused entry to the Nomination Place unless he:

1. has a Political Donation Certificate issued by the Registrar, Registry of Political Donations;
2. is accompanied by a proposer, a seconder and at least four assentors; and

3. in the case of a Group Representation Constituency (GRC),

   1. belongs to a group of persons seeking to be a group of candidates for election in that GRC;
   2. all members in the group belong to the same political party, or are seeking to stand as a group of independents;
   3. is accompanied by all other members of the group; and
   4. at least one member of that group has the relevant Minority Community Certificate for the community designated for that GRC.

To be nominated, the candidate/group of candidates must deliver the following documents (collectively known as “Nomination papers”) in duplicate (duplicate copy may be in the form of photocopies of the original):

For Single Member Constituency

1. the Nomination Paper; and
2. the Political Donation Certificate issued to the candidate;

For Group Representation Constituency (GRC)

1. the Nomination Paper;
2. the Political Donation Certificate issued to each candidate in the group; and
3. the relevant Minority Community Certificate for the community designated for the GRC that the group is seeking election, issued to at least one candidate in the group.

Each candidate must also ensure that payment for the election deposit is made before 12 noon on Nomination Day.

The Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at the Nomination Place between 11 am and 12 noon on Nomination Day, by the candidate/group of candidates in person together with the proposer, seconder and at least four assentors. All timings shall be based on the time shown on the official clock in the Nomination Place.

If there is a change in the hours of nomination due to contingency situations, the Nomination papers must be delivered within the times specified in the Returning Officer’s public notice of such change. Nomination papers that are submitted late cannot be accepted.

Before 12 noon on Nomination Day, candidates/groups of candidates may be given the opportunity by the Returning Officer to correct any error or omission which is discovered in their Nomination Paper. The Nomination Paper may then be amended and subsequently re-delivered to the Returning Officer at the Nomination Place before 12 noon. Otherwise, the nomination is invalidated.

As long as the persons specified in the Nomination Paper are identifiable, any error or omission in relation to the description or particulars of any person (e.g., “SXXXXXXXH” written as “SXXXXXXXK”) shall not be a basis for rejecting the Nomination Paper.

However, substituting a different person as the candidate, proposer, seconder or assentor is not permitted by way of amendment. In such a case, a fresh Nomination Paper must be delivered to the Returning Officer.

A candidate can withdraw his nomination for election in any electoral division any time before 12 noon on Nomination Day. This also applies to a group of candidates. After 12 noon on Nomination Day, a nomination validly delivered cannot be withdrawn.

To withdraw the nomination for election in an electoral division, the candidate nominated (or in the case of a Group Representation Constituency, one of the nominated candidates) must appear in person and file a written notice of withdrawal with the election officials at the Nomination Place.

The written withdrawal should include:

1. the contested electoral division;
2. candidate's name (as stated in NRIC);
3. candidate's NRIC number;
4. candidate's political party;
5. candidate's signature; and
6. candidate’s statement indicating his desire to withdraw his valid nomination (or the valid nomination of the group of candidates).

Nomination papers that are accepted by the Returning Officer are open to inspection by other candidates/groups of candidates, their respective subscribers and one other person (if any).

Objections to the nomination of a candidate/group of candidates may be made by a rival candidate for the same electoral division, or any one of the rival candidate’s proposer, seconder, assentors, or one other person (if any). The Returning Officer may also raise objections.

Objections must be made in writing, signed by the objector, and submitted in person to the election officials at the Nomination Place between 11 am and 12.30 pm on Nomination Day.

The written objection should include:

1. the contested electoral division;
2. objector’s name (as stated in NRIC);
3. objector’s NRIC number;
4. objector’s political party;
5. objector’s signature;
6. objector’s ground/reason for objection;
7. objectee’s name; and
8. objectee’s political party.

Objections must be based on the permitted grounds of objection under the law and must state the specific ground(s) for objection. The grounds of objections to Nomination Papers are limited to those stated in section 30(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 (PEA), and they are as follows:

1. The description of the candidate is insufficient to identify him. For example, the Nomination Paper contains multiple errors in the particulars of the candidate.

2. The Nomination Paper does not comply with or is not delivered in accordance with the PEA. For example:

   1. the Nomination Paper is not signed by each candidate, proposer, seconder or at least four assentors;
   2. the particulars of the proposer, seconder or any one of the assentors are incorrect in that they are not in the Register of Electors for the electoral division that the candidate/group of candidates seeks election in;
   3. the Nomination Paper is not accompanied by a Political Donation Certificate for each candidate;
   4. the Nomination Paper is not delivered by the candidate/group of candidates in person, together with the proposer, seconder and at least four assentors; or
   5. the statutory declaration(s) in the Nomination Paper is/are not properly completed.
3. It is apparent from the contents of the Nomination Paper that the candidate is not qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament. For example, the Nomination Paper states the candidate’s occupation as “Civil Servant”.

4. The provisions of section 27A or 28 of the PEA have not been observed. For example:

   1. the Nomination Paper is not accompanied by the required election deposit;
   2. in the case of a Group Representation Constituency (GRC), the Nomination Paper is not accompanied by a relevant Minority Community Certificate for the community designated for that GRC for at least one candidate in the group; or
   3. in the case of a GRC, the Nomination Paper contains a number of candidates fewer or more than the number of candidates in the group as required under the law for that GRC.

The Returning Officer will decide whether to allow or disallow an objection. If the objection is allowed, the relevant Nomination Paper becomes invalid.

If the Returning Officer disallows an objection, his decision is final and conclusive and cannot be called into question in any court of law.

To prevent their Nomination Paper from being successfully objected to, candidates/groups of candidates should complete their Nomination Paper carefully and check that all required documents are complete and present.

If there is only one candidate/group of candidates nominated for an electoral division, the Returning Officer or election officials at the Nomination Centre for that electoral division will declare the candidate/group of candidates to be elected for that electoral division. A poll will not be held. This declaration may be made after 12 noon on Nomination Day if at 12 noon, only one candidate/group of candidates stands nominated.

If there is more than one candidate/group of candidates nominated for an electoral division, the Returning Officer or his appointed deputy at the Nomination Centre for that electoral division will prepare to conduct a poll for that electoral division and allot to each candidate/group of candidates an approved symbol to be printed on the ballot paper opposite their names. The Returning Officer will issue to every candidate a set of documents which includes:

1. the permit to display Traditional Election Advertising (TEA), i.e. banners, flags or posters, in public places;
2. the official stamps for TEA; and
3. the list of voters’ serial numbers.

Candidates of both contested and uncontested elections will be able to address their supporters at the close of nomination proceedings at a designated Announcement Area, in accordance with conditions set by the Returning Officer. These conditions may include the sequence of the speeches for candidates, the mode of address and the duration of the speeches. Candidates can refer to the advisory on Procedure for Delivery of Thank-You Speeches by Candidates at Nomination Centres for details.

The conduct of any other speech in or around the Nomination Centres by a candidate/group of candidates (aside from the thank-you speech at the close of nomination proceedings) will require a Police permit.

The national broadcaster will broadcast the nomination result announcements and thank-you speeches.

Candidates, their subscribers (i.e. proposer, seconder and assentors), one other person (if any) and supporters must observe the following restrictions:

1. video- and/or photo-taking is strictly prohibited within the Nomination Place;
2. supporters of candidates may only display or exhibit flags, banners and placards containing their candidate’s/group of candidates’ image and/or allotted symbol at the Nomination Centre after the close of nomination proceedings, during the candidate’s thank-you speech;
3. any speech other than those delivered by candidates/groups of candidates with the Returning Officer’s approval will not be allowed at the Nomination Centre;
4. any public procession of supporters which involves the display or exhibition of flags, banners and placards, singing or playing of musical equipment or instruments, shouting of slogans or jingles in support of a candidate, or making of public speeches will be prohibited;
5. candidates/groups of candidates are not allowed to hold press conferences at the Nomination Centre; and
6. to ensure public safety, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are not permitted to be flown at Nomination Centres.

Given the public order, security and safety concerns, security measures will be implemented in and around the Nomination Centre. This includes security checks on persons who intend to enter the specific areas in the Nomination Centre such as the Holding Area and Nomination Place. Any person entering the Nomination Centre, such as candidates, subscriber, one other person (if any), supporters and media personnel are to comply with the security measures that are put in place.

Parking or waiting at the Nomination Centre is strictly prohibited. Candidates, subscribers and one other person (if any) will be allowed to alight at the drop-off point but their vehicles must immediately leave the premises thereafter. Hence they are advised not to self-drive to the Nomination Centre. In the event a candidate or subscriber has to self-drive to the Nomination Centre, he should familiarise himself with available public carparks in the vicinity of the Nomination Centre and cater ample walking time from the public carpark to the Nomination Centre.

To ensure that their Nomination papers are submitted in time, candidates/groups of candidates, their subscribers and their one other person (if any) should arrive as a complete group at the Nomination Centre as that is one of the mandatory conditions for entry into the Nomination Place. They are strongly encouraged to arrive early from 10 am.

Candidates, subscribers, one other person (if any) and supporters are not to bring sharp object(s), flammable liquids or gas, weapons or replica of weapons, bulky items or big bags into the Nomination Centre. Action may be taken against anyone who attempts to bring in items listed in the List of Prohibited Items.

The following acts, if committed in and/or around a Nomination Centre on Nomination Day, are offences:

1. forging any Nomination Paper;
2. dishonestly defacing or destroying any Nomination Paper;
3. delivering a forged Nomination Paper knowing it to be forged;
4. making any false statement of the withdrawal of any candidate; or
5. illegal hawking of magazines, newsletters, books, etc.