CANDIDATE FAQS

A person is qualified to be a candidate for election as President if he:

• is a citizen of Singapore;
• is 45 years old and above on Nomination Day;
• is registered as an elector in a current Registers of Electors;
• is resident in Singapore on Nomination Day;
• has been resident in Singapore for a total period of at least 10 years before Nomination Day;
• is not subject to any of the disqualifications specified in Article 45 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Constitution);
• is not a member of any political party on Nomination Day;
• satisfies the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) that he is a person of integrity, good character and reputation; and
• satisfies the PEC that he has, at the date of the Writ of Election, met either the public sector or private sector service requirement, and the period(s) of service that he relies on falls partly or wholly within the 20 years that immediately precede the date of the Writ of Election.

• Nomination Paper (in duplicate);
• Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) (in duplicate);
• Community Certificate issued by the Community Committee (or in an open election, in lieu of the Community Certificate, the Notice of Rejection of Application for Community Certificate; or the Notice of Acceptance of Community Declaration and the Statutory Declaration that Nominee Does Not Belong to Any Community) (in duplicate); and
• Political Donation Certificate issued by the Registrar of Political Donations (in duplicate).

A prospective candidate from the Chinese community needs to apply for a Chinese Community Certificate to contest at a Presidential election.

The Presidential election may be

• an open election which is contested by candidates from all races; or
• a reserved election for the Chinese community.

The election deposit is fixed by law at three times the amount of election deposit payable under the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954. 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.

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/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 President;
• 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.

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.

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;
• 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.

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.

For permit-related enquiries on the conduct of election meetings or the use of private vehicles for broadcast of election-related messages, candidates may call the Police Elections Permit Office (PEPO) hotline at 1800-220-3370 during operating hours. PEPO will operate from Nomination Day to the eve of Cooling-off Day, from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm daily on all days except Nomination Day, when it will operate from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm.

Under the law, candidates and their election agents 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 or other purposes.

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

The Presidential Elections Act 1991 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 a video or take part in any activities to promote a political party or an election candidate during this period.

If a candidate is a victim of online falsehoods or manipulated content such as deepfakes, please take the following steps:

• publicly address the matter as soon as it is established that the content is false.
• if it is circulating on social media, report the content to the relevant social media platforms via their user reporting channels. Major social media platforms have established community guidelines prohibiting misinformation and/or misleading manipulated media.
• if the candidate believes that a criminal offence has been committed, report the content to the Police.

Candidates are advised that the use of AI in campaigns should not mislead or deceive voters and consequently, influence the outcome of an election. Persons who engage in spreading misinformation and disinformation online may be liable for an offence of communicating false message under Section 14D of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906. Actions may also be taken against persons who have communicated online falsehoods or misleading manipulated content under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) 2019. Persons may also be liable for an offence under POFMA if they are found to have knowingly communicated these falsehoods.

Candidates are also advised to be familiar with and adhere to community guidelines laid out by social media companies regarding the use of generative AI and synthetic media on their services.

Election advertising is defined under the Presidential Elections Act 1991 as any material that can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or procure the electoral success of a candidate at any election; or to otherwise enhance the standing of the candidate with the electorate in connection with that election. This includes doing so by prejudicing the electoral prospects of any other candidate or by prejudicing the other candidate’s standing with the electorate.

OEA refers to election advertising that is published in any way that renders it accessible from the Internet. This includes but is not limited to election advertising published on websites, social media platforms, chat rooms or discussion forums, content sharing services, or published using email or instant messaging services, SMS services or MMS services.

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 OEA (whether paid or unpaid), and to subsequently declare any additional new platforms before using them. If candidates are publishing paid OEA, they need to additionally declare accordingly to the Returning Officer, and provide further information, including:

• the publisher of the paid OEA;
• the period that the paid OEA will be available online; and
• the source of funding for the paid OEA, i.e. whether the OEA was paid for by the candidate, his election agent or any other person.

During an election period, any individual who is a Singapore citizen may publish OEA 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.

Third parties will have to seek written authority signed by a candidate or election agent before they are allowed to publish paid OEA. It is an offence for unauthorised third parties to publish paid OEA during the election period.

The paid OEA published by third parties will also have to be declared to the Returning Officer by the candidate or election agent, and abide by the published-by requirements.

The published-by requirements require that election advertising (paid or unpaid) displays the full names of all person(s) who played an active role in publishing it. Such persons could be candidates, election agents, third parties who have received written authority signed by a candidate or election agent, or any other individuals or entities. For OEA, this entails displaying the full name(s) of:

• person(s) who are responsible for publishing the election advertising:
• person(s) who approved the content of the election advertising;
• person(s) who directed the election advertising to be published.

In addition, the published-by requirements require that paid OEA includes a message or statement to indicate that it has been sponsored or paid for, using words like “sponsored by” or “paid for by”, and the full name(s) of the person(s) who paid for the OEA.

The published-by requirements do not specify the dimensions of the relevant particulars, but the relevant particulars should be clearly displayed on the OEA. However, if it is not reasonably practicable to display the relevant particulars in a legible manner on the face of the OEA, the viewer should be able to directly access (e.g., by clicking on a link) another website or platform that prominently displays the relevant particulars.

Candidates do not need to remove any OEA, paid or unpaid, that was published before the campaign period as long as the required online declaration to the Returning Officer is made from Nomination Day.

If candidates intend to re-publish during the campaign period OEA that was earlier published before the campaign period (e.g. to share, reshare, repost or boost existing OEA), they will have to submit the necessary declarations to the Returning Officer for the OEA platform/account and paid OEA.

Candidates must declare to the Returning Officer the particulars of every OEA platform, online account and communication service (e.g. website, blog, social media service, emails, MMS, SMS, private messaging service) on which OEA will be published by or on behalf of the candidates during the campaign period. After the declaration is done, candidates may proceed to publish OEA on declared platforms for the rest of the campaign period, which is until the day before Cooling-off Day.

In addition, candidates must declare to the Returning officer details of each instance of paid OEA which will be published by or on behalf of the candidates during the election period.

The first declaration must be submitted to the Returning Officer within 12 hours after the start of the campaign period. Thereafter, a declaration must be submitted to the Returning Officer any time (a) before OEA is published on any new platform during the campaign period, or (b) before a new paid OEA is published during the campaign period.

Specifically, candidates must not publish results of election surveys or exit polls during the election period, appeals for public to make donations that contravenes the Political Donations Act 2000 (e.g. from non-Singapore Citizens), and party political films. The content of OEA must also comply with other relevant laws concerning online content.

No, there is no need to apply for a permit from MHA for the e-rallies. That said, e-rallies will be considered Online Election Advertising (OEA) and must comply with the relevant OEA rules, including (a) to be declared to the Returning Officer by candidates or their election agents, and (b) to comply with the relevant published-by requirements. The e-rallies should also comply with the relevant legislation concerning online content, such as the Internet Code of Practice, which can be found on Infocomm Media Development Authority’s website.

Candidates and voters are reminded that the making, distribution and exhibition of PPFs are disallowed. PPFs include films which are made by any person and directed towards any political end in Singapore, such as those intended or likely to affect voting in any election in Singapore. In using film as a platform to conduct political discourse, candidates should respect the need to keep politics rational and grounded on facts.

When in doubt on whether a political film is allowable, please consult the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

Films that are only posted online need not be submitted for classification, but the content should comply with the Internet Code of Practice, which can be found on IMDA’s website. In addition, the necessary declarations for Online Election Advertising should be made to the Returning Officer.

Only the candidate who is standing for Presidential elections may deliver the PCB. The candidate can have a voiceover and subtitles for the languages that he is not fluent in. However, he needs to provide a translation of his speech in that language.

Candidates may record and upload the PCBs onto the internet, provided there are no copyright issues with the broadcaster. Candidates do not have to submit these recordings for classification before uploading. They should ensure that the recording does not contain any defamatory content, and comply with the requirements for Online Election Advertising under the Presidential Elections Act 1991.

Under Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2009, if a candidate or his election agent applies for an election meeting permit, the Commissioner of Police will consider a host of factors which will include the risk of disorder, and impact on public safety amongst other factors.

Candidates should bear in mind the following when applying for a permit to hold an election meeting:

• ensure 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);
• ensure adequate crowd control, traffic control and security measures have been put in place by the permit applicant;
• ensure 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; and
• ensure the capacity of the election meeting site is able to safely accommodate the estimated turnout
• ensure there are additional crowd control measures put in place to manage any overcrowding

If the permit application is approved, the permit holder shall be responsible to ensure all permit conditions are complied with and that the organisation of the election meeting site adheres to the approved Site and Crowd Management Plan. For election meetings, only persons who are approved to speak in accordance with the Police permit issued may do so.

Candidates and election agents may only start applying for a permit after the close of nomination proceedings. Applications must be submitted at least two calendar days before the election meeting is scheduled to be held. For applications on Nomination Day, applications can be made from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm (subject to the end of nomination proceedings) for election meetings held two calendar days later. For subsequent days during the campaigning period, applications must be made before 11.00 am, similarly for election meetings to be held two calendar days later. The last day for election meeting permit applications shall be four days before Polling Day, at 11.00 am, for an election meeting to be held two days before Polling Day.

Before the close of nomination proceedings on Nomination Day, Police will not accept any applications for election meetings. Police will inform the prospective candidates that they will only accept applications from the candidates or their election agents after the close of nomination proceedings and will commence processing of election meeting applications thereafter. Hence, the earliest day for an election meeting is two days after Nomination Day if the application is received on Nomination Day, after the close of nomination proceedings.

Activities held before Nomination Day may require licenses and permits by the relevant regulatory authorities. Prospective candidates are to ensure that activities are conducted within the limits of the law.

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 election meeting 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, candidates are encouraged to hold such rallies, if any, at sports stadiums or indoor venues.

Election meetings at indoor venues should be held wholly within an enclosed building or structure, where only people attending the meeting will be able to hear or see the activities taking place.

All candidates who wish to hold election meetings must secure the rental of the venue from the premises owner. The Application Form for Premise Owner’s Acknowledgement shall be submitted to the Police with the premises owner’s endorsement. This form shall be submitted to Police at the point of application for a Police permit to hold an election meeting, along with a Site and Crowd Management Plan (with estimated number of attendees), a List of Speakers, information on the occupancy load of the premises and any other relevant supporting documents.

Due to safety and security considerations, candidates are encouraged to hold such rallies, if any, at sports stadiums or indoor venues.

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. Candidates who wish to hold election meetings may still do so and must apply for a Police permit. Due to safety and security considerations, candidates are encouraged to hold such rallies, if any, at sports stadiums or indoor venues where the infrastructure is better designed to accommodate large crowds.

Private events are events where a selected group of persons are privately invited to the event, and the invitees are all known to the organiser. Entry to the public and other person(s) is strictly prohibited. Candidates can hold such private meetings to engage specific groups of voters. No permit from the Police is required for private meetings.

Candidates are encouraged to use platforms that reach out to voters at large such as the TV broadcasts and social media. There will not be any designated election meeting sites. Candidates who wish to hold rallies will need to secure election meeting sites on their own, obtain approval from the owners of the premises or sites, and apply to Police for a permit. Police will assess the application based on public order, safety, and security considerations.

There are many other platforms, including online platforms, through which candidates can raise funds. Candidates can also be funded via political donations, so long as they are in line with existing laws such as the Political Donations Act 2000.

The act where candidates speak from the back of perambulating vehicles would amount to a de-facto election meeting and may result in crowd congregation and disamenities to residents and businesses in the vicinity. This will also pose significant risk to road safety if crowds follow the perambulating vehicle on the road.

Traditional election advertising refers to non-online election advertising in the form of a banner, flag or a poster.

In a Presidential election, traditional election advertising (i.e. non-online election advertising in the form of a banner, flag or poster) can only be put up during the campaign period.

During and outside of the campaign period, the display of traditional election advertising is also regulated by the laws of the land.

A candidate or any of his election agents can authorise a third party to publish or cause to be published, or publicly display or cause to be publicly displayed, any non-online election advertising by issuing the Authority to Publish or Cause to be Published, or Publicly Display or Cause to be Publicly Displayed, Non-Online Election Advertising form to him. The form must be signed by the candidate or any of his election agents, before the third party is allowed to publish or publicly display the non-online election advertising.

As the publishing or displaying of banners, flags and posters will often constitute an election activity, candidates and their election agents are reminded to issue the Authority to Conduct Election Activity form to the authorised third party each time the Authority to Publish or Cause to be Published, or Publicly Display or Cause to be Publicly Displayed, Non-Online Election Advertising form is issued.

During the election period (i.e. from the Writ of Election is issued to close of polls on Polling Day), published-by requirements are applicable to all publicly displayed banners, flags and posters that fall within the definition of election advertising. This means that relevant banners, flags and posters that are found not to meet the published-by requirements after the Writ of Election is issued will be in breach of the election advertising regulations, and enforcement actions can be taken.

Between issue of Writ and close of nomination proceedings, the Returning Officer’s stamps are not applicable yet as Returning Officer will only issue the Returning Officer’s stamps to nominated candidates at the end of nomination proceedings on Nomination Day if the election is contested.

In the context of a Presidential election, the candidates must ensure that these banners, flags and posters comply with the published-by requirements after the Writ of Election is issued, on top of other laws of the land. After close of nomination proceedings, in addition to the published-by requirements, the candidates must also ensure that the relevant banners, flags and posters have the Returning Officer’s stamps affixed on them, on top of other requirements in the Returning Officer’s permit (i.e. a copy lodged with the Returning Officer prior to display, contains permissible electoral matter and is properly secured).

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

It is considered a large traditional 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.

The formulae to compute the maximum number of small and large traditional election advertising (i.e. non-online election advertising in the form of a banner, flag or poster) is as follows:

Banners, flags and posters may take the form of a small or large traditional election advertising. 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. Third parties without the written authorisation by a candidate or any of his election agents are not allowed to publicly display banners, flags or posters.

If the candidate has printed on two sides of a banner, flag or poster and both sides are displayed publicly, each side of the election advertising will be treated as a separate election advertising and will count towards the maximum number of small or large election advertising allowed to be displayed in an election. Each side must also separately adhere to the conditions stated in the Returning Officer’s permit, including lodging the copy, detailed diagram or drawing of the banner, flag or poster together with its published-by requirements with the Returning Officer; and having a Returning Officer’s official stamp affixed on each side.

Display of banners, flags or posters, are only allowed at permissible locations, which refer to lamp posts; and any premises, conveyance, thing or structure where the premises owner’s consent has been obtained.

For the avoidance of doubt, the banners, flags and posters are not allowed to be displayed:

• 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);
• on trains;
• on Public Service Vehicles (PSV) (e.g., buses, taxis, private-hire vehicles) other than a PSV hired for the sole purpose of conveyance of a candidate or any person authorised by the candidate during a campaign period;
• on any vehicle (whether moving or stationary) located within 100 metres of an election rally, unless the election rally is organised by the candidate himself and the vehicle is used for the sole purpose of conveyance of persons attending the election rally; and
• on trees and plants.

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.

The Returning Officer may direct the removal of unauthorised banners, flags and posters by persons authorised by him, i.e. the Elections Department’s contractor.

For the first instance of breach, a warning letter will be sent to the candidate and his election agent by email. The candidate and his election agent will be required to conduct rectification within three hours of receiving the notification. If the breach infringes safety requirements, the rectification window will be one hour.

This is to ensure that candidates comply with the rules for the display of banners, flags and posters. As there is cost incurred to take down unauthorised banners, flags or posters (such as 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), the amount to be borne for each removal is recoverable as a debt due to the Government.

The amount of $50 per removal is derived from manpower costs, transport and logistics costs, etc., on a cost-recovery basis. This cost must be included in the candidates’ election expenses.

The period starting on the eve on the eve of Polling Day (i.e. Cooling-off Day) and ending with the close of polling on Polling Day is called the “cooling-off period”.

The following acts are not allowed during the cooling-off period:

• publish or publicly display, or cause to be published or publicly displayed any election advertising, including Online Election Advertising (OEA) and non-online election advertising such as traditional election advertising (i.e. non-online election advertising in the form of banner, flag or poster), that is not already lawfully published or displayed;
• canvassing, walkabouts, door-to-door visits, visiting homes and workplaces of voters for election purposes 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); and
• holding of election meetings.

There are some exceptions to the prohibition of election advertising during cooling-off period:

• non-online election advertising (e.g. banners, flags and posters) that was lawfully publicly displayed before the start of Cooling-off Day and not relocated, altered or modified since the start of the cooling-off period;
• lawful OEA that was already in place before the start of Cooling-off Day, and has not had its reach widened during the cooling-off period;

• public display of any non-online election advertising within or on an exterior wall or exterior window of the office or committee room of a candidate, provided that the non-online election advertising –

  • consists only of permissible electoral matter; and
  • is solely for the purpose of indicating that the office or room is the office or committee room of the candidate;
• news reports relating to election matters by authorised news agencies;
• promotional materials relating to the commercial sale of literary or artistic works such as books, if these works were previously scheduled for publication regardless of any election;
• the communication of content between two or more individuals that is of a private or domestic nature using electronic means; and
• the communication of content using electronic means to a closed-group of end-users who are employed or engaged in a business, for the conduct of that business.

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 authorised in writing 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 election staff officially deployed at the polling station;
• an authorised individual employed by a nursing home (whether or not the individual is a citizen of Singapore), where a special polling station is established;
• voters assigned to vote at the polling station;
• the candidates contesting at the election; and
• the appointed polling agents for that polling station not exceeding the maximum number of and whose names have been notified to the election official.

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 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
• smoking within a polling station.

The following persons are allowed to enter a counting centre:

• the Returning Officer and other persons appointed by the Returning Officer to assist him at the counting centre;
• the candidates;
• the appointed counting agents(s); and
• other persons that the Returning Officer may permit (e.g. police officers on duty at the 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
• smoking within the counting centre.

A person appointed by a candidate or his election agent as a polling or counting agent must not be –

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

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, we are 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;
• 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 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.