All banners, flags and posters, must be publicly displayed in the manner set out in section 42F of the Presidential Elections Act 1991 and the Presidential Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations 2023, and must not contain illegal content such as seditious materials or materials that may cause alarm and distress.

If any banner, flag or poster does not adhere to the conditions stated in the Returning Officer’s permit; or does not comply with the controls on the quantity, size, location, manner of and period of display, the Returning Officer may direct the unauthorised banner, flag or poster to be removed. The public display of an unauthorised banner, flag or poster and the failure to comply with the Returning Officer’s directions is an offence.

	PUBLISHED-BY REQUIREMENTS FOR TRADITIONAL ELECTION ADVERTISING

To comply with the published-by requirements, all banners, flags and posters that are publicly displayed during the election period must include the following information:

Note: In cases where the person(s)/entity for “Approved by” and/or “Publicly displayed for” is the same as the “Publicly displayed by” information, then the field(s) need not be stated on the face of the election advertising accordingly.

	RETURNING OFFICER’S PERMIT FOR TRADITIONAL ELECTION ADVERTISING

At the end of nomination proceedings, the Returning Officer will issue to every candidate a permit authorising the public display of banners, flags and posters by or on behalf of the candidate. Candidates must ensure that the display of their banners, flags and posters comply with the conditions stated in the Returning Officer’s permit, which may only include conditions relating to the following:

1. before each banner, flag or poster is publicly displayed, a copy, detailed diagram or drawing of the banner, flag or poster, together with its published-by requirements must be lodged with the Returning Officer;
2. each banner, flag and poster must be affixed with a stamp issued by the Returning Officer for the entire period that it is publicly displayed (i.e. large stamps for large election advertising and small stamps for small election advertising);
3. each banner, flag and poster must only contain permissible electoral matter for the entire period that it is publicly displayed; and
4. each banner, flag and poster must be properly secured when it is displayed on a lamp post.

	LODGMENT OF TRADITIONAL ELECTION ADVERTISING PRIOR TO PUBLIC DISPLAY

Candidates or their election agents must lodge a copy, detailed diagram or drawing of each banner, flag and poster (including details of its published-by requirements) with the Returning Officer before they are displayed by the candidate, election agents or their authorised third parties. They are encouraged to do so via Candidate Services.

	MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE NUMBER AND SIZE FOR TRADITIONAL ELECTION ADVERTISING

Banners, flags and posters may take the form of a small or large traditional election advertising.

The maximum permissible number and size for small and large traditional election advertising are as follows:

Small or large traditional election advertising that are displayed by authorised third parties will count towards the maximum permissible number of small or large traditional election advertising allowed to be publicly displayed by or on behalf of a candidate.

All banners, flags and posters publicly displayed must bear the official stamp issued by the Returning Officer identifying them as either a small or large traditional election advertising. Multiple small traditional election advertising displayed so closely to one another as to form a large traditional election advertising will each be counted towards the maximum permissible number for small traditional election advertising and must each be affixed with a small stamp. The large traditional election advertising so formed will also be counted towards the maximum permissible number for large traditional election advertising and must also be affixed with a large stamp.

To avoid ambiguity or confusion to voters, the candidate’s name or image (or both) and the symbol allotted to the candidate should always be clearly displayed.

	WHERE AND HOW TRADITIONAL ELECTION ADVERTISING MAY BE DISPLAYED

Permissible locations

Banners, flags and posters can be hung on lamp posts, subject to the following conditions:

• the lamp post must not have any traffic sign, traffic camera or any other road or traffic infrastructure installed on it; and
• only allowed on alternate lamp posts, i.e. the same candidate’s banners, flags or posters cannot be hung consecutively on an entire stretch of lamp posts.

Banners, flags and posters may also be displayed on any premises, conveyance, thing or structure:

• if consent has been sought from the owner of the premises, conveyance, thing or structure;
• if a licence, permit or other like approval required by or under any other written law has been issued; or
• in a manner or in circumstances that will not cause a serious and imminent risk of damaging other property or injuring another individual or an animal if the banner, flag or poster falls.

For the avoidance of doubt, candidates are not allowed to display any traditional election advertising:

• in the area within 50 metres of any ordinary polling station or special polling station established for the conduct of a poll in an election (i.e. restricted signage zone). Candidates may check the restricted signage zone of each polling station via OneMap app;
• on trains;
• on Public Service Vehicles (e.g. buses, taxis, private-hire vehicles) other than a vehicle hired for the sole purpose of conveyance of a candidate or any person authorised by the candidate during the campaign period;
• on any vehicle (whether moving or stationary) located within 100 metres of an election meeting (i.e. such as rally), unless the rally is organised by or on behalf of the candidate himself and the vehicle is used for the sole purpose of conveyance of persons attending the rally; and
• trees and plants.

Manner of display

The display of banners, flags and posters should not obstruct the view of banners, flags and posters of other candidates. Candidates and their election agents ought to ensure that their banners, flags and posters are not nailed, pasted or inscribed directly onto any surface, and that all materials used for the display (e.g. cable ties) are completely removed after the election.

They should also ensure that the display does not pose a safety hazard or risk. This includes:

• must be properly secured and do not dislodge and damage other property or injure another individual or an animal;
• must not obstruct the movement of pedestrians or cyclists on footpaths or pavements;
• must not obstruct the traffic view of drivers of vehicles on a road;
• must not obstruct the view of any traffic sign, traffic camera or any other road or traffic infrastructure (whether permanently or temporarily set up); and
• should comply with prevailing safety guidelines or requirements, such as:
• height clearance of at least 2.4 metres when placed on structures on or near footpaths and pavements; and
• use of appropriate equipment (e.g. A-frame ladder) to facilitate the installation or dismantling of displays at height.

	REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORISED TRADITIONAL ELECTION ADVERTISING

The Returning Officer may direct the removal of unauthorised banners, flags and posters. Examples of unauthorised banners, flags and posters are those that do not adhere to the conditions stated in the Returning Officer’s permit; or those that do not comply with the controls on quantity, size, location, manner of and period of display. Such removals may be carried out by any person authorised by the Returning Officer (e.g. the Elections Department’s (ELD) contractor).

During the campaign period, candidates or their election agents will be contacted as part of investigations on banners, flags and posters suspected to be in breach. When a breach is detected, the candidate or any of his election agents will be notified to rectify the banner, flag or poster in question within three hours of receiving the notification. However, if the breach infringes safety requirements, the rectification window will be one hour. An email with a case number will be sent to the candidate and his election agents to log the case. Once rectified, the candidate or any of his election agents is to submit rectified photos of the banner, flag or poster in question to ELD’s contractor for documentation and to close the case. The photos should be taken less than five metres from the banner, flag or poster in question and should clearly identify its location and surroundings.

During cooling-off period

The cooling-off period refers to the period starting the eve of Polling Day (i.e. Cooling-off Day) and ending with the close of polling on Polling Day. During this period, ELD’s contractor will conduct an island-wide sweep to detect banners, flags and posters that are displayed in the area within 50 metres of a polling station. Candidates or any of his election agents will be notified to remove the banner, flag or poster in question within the time specified in the notification.

After Polling Day

Candidates or their election agents have to ensure that all their banners, flags or posters are removed within six days after Polling Day and the failure to do so is a criminal offence.

	SUM RECOVERABLE FOR REMOVAL OF EACH UNAUTHORISED TRADITIONAL ELECTION ADVERTISING

Candidates are required to bear the expenses if unauthorised banners, flags or posters are removed or stopped being publicly displayed by the Returning Officer. The amount to be borne for each removal (or ceasing of public display) is a sum of $50, and this is recoverable as a debt due to the Government. During the campaign period, candidates and their election agents will be notified of the $50 payment upon removal of each unauthorised banner, flag or poster. By the 10th day after Polling Day, candidates will be notified of the consolidated number of removals, the total amount payable, and the deadline for the payment. This cost must be included in the candidates’ election expenses.

Election advertising forming part of any of the following does not need to comply with the published-by requirements if it consists only of the name, image or symbol of the candidate:

Candidates and their election agents are to ensure that the items above do not contain or display any false statement of fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of any candidate for the purpose of affecting the return of the candidate, or in relation to the withdrawal of any candidate at the election for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of any other candidate.

Candidates must apply for a permit from the Police before they can hold an election meeting to campaign or show support for a candidate. The conduct of any election meeting at the Speakers’ Corner will require a Police permit notwithstanding its status as an Unrestricted area.

Rallies, by their nature and format, may be divisive and not congruent with the unifying role of the Elected Presidency. Hence, rallies are not encouraged and there will be no designated rally sites for Presidential elections. Candidates who wish to hold election meetings (i.e. such as rallies) must apply for a Police permit. Due to safety and security considerations, applications for election meetings at locations outside of sports stadiums and indoor venues are unlikely to be approved.

All candidates who wish to hold election meetings must secure the rental of the venue and seek approval or consent by completing the Application Form for Premises Owner’s Acknowledgement with the premises owner’s endorsement. This form should be submitted to Police at the point of application for a Police permit to hold an election meeting, along with the Site and Crowd Management Plan, a List of Speakers, information on the occupancy load of the premises and any other relevant supporting documents.

Under section 7 of the Public Order Act 2009, if a candidate or any of his election agents applies for an election meeting permit, the Commissioner of Police will assess the application based on security and public order considerations. Examples of these considerations are:

1. whether the venue will be exclusively used for the election meeting (with access control measures put in place by the permit applicant, with sufficient time gap between election meetings (i.e. at least four hours) for turn-over between meetings held on the same day at the venue);
2. whether adequate crowd control, traffic control and security measures have been put in place by the permit applicant;
3. whether adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that the election meeting does not cause significant inconvenience to the general public or traffic flow;
4. whether the capacity of the election meeting site is able to safely accommodate the estimated turnout; and
5. whether there are additional crowd control measures put in place to manage any overcrowding.

An in-person briefing by Police Election Permit Office (PEPO) to election agents on the application of Police permits will be conducted after the close of nomination proceedings at PEPO, located at Level 2 of Police Cantonment Complex (391 New Bridge Road, Singapore 088762). Permit applicants will need to produce a valid photo-identification document to obtain a security pass to enter the building. As public parking is not available at the Police Cantonment Complex, candidates and their election agents are advised to park their vehicles at parking facilities nearby.

	PERMIT APPLICATION

Applications for the election meeting permits are encouraged to be made online via the Singapore Police Force website. Applications can also be made in person by the candidate or any of his election agents at the PEPO.

Applications must be submitted two days before the intended election meeting date. Therefore, the earliest day for an election meeting to be held is two days after Nomination Day. Applications for election meetings to be held on this day must be submitted by 4 pm on Nomination Day. Applications for election meetings to be held on other campaigning days must be submitted by 11 am at least two days before the election meeting. For example, if the election meeting is planned for Thursday, the candidate or any of his election agents should apply for a permit latest by 11 am on Tuesday that same week.

For applications submitted manually at PEPO, the application form shall be completed with the candidate or any of his election agents' particulars and sealed in an envelope which will be provided at PEPO’s reception.

Candidates or their election agents who wish to apply for a permit in person at PEPO, may do so during PEPO’s operating hours. PEPO will operate from Nomination Day to the eve of Cooling-off Day, from 8.30 am to 6 pm daily on all days except Nomination Day, when it will operate from 2 pm to 6 pm. Candidates and their election agents may call the PEPO hotline at 1800-220-3370 during operating hours for permit-related enquiries.

Upon receipt of a permit application, a Police Election Meeting Liaison Officer (EMLO) may get in touch with the applicant to seek clarifications on the application before coming to a decision on whether the meeting may be allowed to proceed.

	PERMIT ISSUANCE

Upon approval of the permit application for an election meeting, the candidate or any of his election agents will need to proceed to PEPO to collect the permit, where the permit conditions will be explained to the candidate or any of his election agents in person. The candidate or any of his election agents must acknowledge on the permit that he fully understands the conditions and will take full responsibility to comply with them, before the permit is issued.

Application Form for Premises Owner’s Acknowledgement (pdf file: 144 KB)
Site and Crowd Management Plan (pdf file: 186 KB)
List of Speakers for Election Meetings (pdf file: 86 KB)

Every election meeting permit is issued subject to conditions and restrictions. Candidates and their election agents need to take note of the following conditions attached to each election meeting permit issued by the Police:

1. The election meeting must not be held in any place other than the place specified in the permit.
2. The election meeting for campaigning (i.e. between Nomination Day and Cooling-off Day), whether indoor or outdoor, must be held only at such place as may be specified in the permit and between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm (both times inclusive). Election meeting proceedings (which include activities led by the candidates such as the reciting of the National Pledge or singing or broadcast of the National Anthem) must conclude within the specified time.
3. There must be no procession to or from the place of the election meeting.
4. No form of public entertainment within the meaning of the Public Entertainments Act 1958 shall be provided before, during and after the election meeting.
5. No live-streaming of any event shall be shown before, during and after the election meeting.
6. The conduct of the election meeting must not obstruct the free passage of persons or vehicular traffic on any public road.
7. Before, during and after the election meeting, no organiser and no speaker at the meeting shall display or exhibit any banner, flag, poster, placard, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visible representation or paraphernalia, or use indecent, threatening or abusive words or otherwise behave, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned whether immediately or at any time after the election meeting.

	ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Other conditions which may be imposed include:

1. The election meeting site shall be held in accordance with the Site and Crowd Management Plan no later than one hour before the commencement of the meeting.
2. Only persons named in the application for the permit and who are approved as speakers can speak at the election meeting.
3. All speakers do not conceal their face at any point of time when delivering their speech on stage.
4. The loud-speakers or public address system used during the meeting are not operated at a level that causes annoyance or nuisance to persons in the vicinity.
5. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones shall not be used at election meetings.
6. The event does not cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different groups in Singapore.

Additional event or terrain-specific conditions may also be imposed by the Commissioner of Police to safeguard public order.

	BREACHES OF PERMIT CONDITIONS

Candidates and their election agents should take note that the breach of a permit condition is an offence for which the permit holder will be held responsible. Candidates and their election agents are to read the permit conditions carefully and familiarise themselves with all conditions. Police take a serious view of all breaches of permit conditions. In the event of a breach, enforcement action may be taken against the permit holder.

Candidates must apply for a permit from the Police before they can broadcast pre-recorded election messages from a vehicle (whether mechanically propelled or otherwise) during the campaign period.

	PERAMBULATING VEHICLE PERMITS

Candidates who wish to use vehicles for campaigning must apply for a Perambulating Vehicle (PV) permit, and applications for the use of perambulating vehicles may be made online via the Singapore Police Force website, two days before the intended commencement date of the perambulating vehicles. The earliest day for the use of perambulating vehicles is two days after Nomination Day. The applications for use of perambulating vehicles on this day must be submitted by 4.00 pm on Nomination Day. Applicants may indicate a period of intended use for perambulating vehicles from two days after Nomination Day, until the eve of Cooling-off Day.

Applications for the use of perambulating vehicles on all other campaigning days must be submitted by 11 am, at least two days before the intended use. For example, if the perambulating vehicle is planned for use on Thursday, the candidate or any of his election agents should apply for a permit latest by 11 am on Tuesday that same week.

Upon in-principle approval, the applicant will be required to acknowledge all the permit conditions online, before the approved permit is issued via email. There is no need for the applicant to visit PEPO to collect the PV permit.

	PERMIT CONDITIONS

Candidates and their election agents need to take note of the following conditions attached to a PV permit issued by the Police:

1. only the vehicle specified in the permit may be used for the election procession;
2. the election procession must be held on the date and within the time specified in the permit;
3. the vehicle shall not deviate from the route specified in the permit;
4. there shall not be any live speeches made;
5. there shall not be any carriage of persons at the back of an open deck vehicle; and
6. all participants in the election procession must not, during the election procession, sing or play any gong, drum, musical instrument or music-producing equipment.

Other conditions which may be imposed include:

1. the vehicle shall be kept moving during the election procession; and
2. the set-up of the vehicle shall not cause danger, obstruction or annoyance to persons using the road, obstruct the sight of the driver either to the front or to the sides, interfere with his ability to give the signals required by Road Traffic Rules, or render such signals wholly or partially invisible to the persons using the roads.

	BREACHES OF PERMIT CONDITIONS

Candidates and their election agents should take note that the breach of a permit condition is an offence for which the permit holder will be held responsible. Candidates and their election agents are to read the permit conditions carefully and familiarise themselves with all conditions. Police take a serious view of all breaches of permit conditions. In the event of a breach, enforcement action may be taken against the permit holder.