The campaign period commences after nomination proceedings end on the day of nomination and ends with the start of the eve of Polling Day (i.e. Cooling-off Day).
As the office of the President is the highest position in the land, the focus of the Presidential Election campaign should be on the suitability and integrity of candidates to discharge the functions of the President, while maintaining the dignity of the office. Candidates should campaign for election as President in a manner that is dignified, decorous and consistent with the President’s position as the Head of State and the symbol of national unity. 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.
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, i.e. non-online election advertising in the form of a banner, flag or poster; 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.
Local free-to-air television and radio channels will give airtime to each candidate. 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.
