Entry to the Nomination Centre will be granted from 10 am.

The Returning Officer will allow candidates, their subscribers (i.e. proposer, seconder and assentors), one other person appointed in writing by a candidate (if any) and supporters entry into the Nomination Centre.

Entry to the Nomination Place will be granted from 10.30 am.

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

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

A nominee seeking to be a candidate for election to the office of President may be refused entry to the Nomination Place unless he:

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

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

1. his Nomination Paper;
2. the Certificate of Eligibility issued to him;
3. the Community Certificate issued to him (or, where the election is not a reserved election, the Notice of Rejection of Application for Community Certificate; or the Notice of Acceptance of Community Declaration together with the Statutory Declaration that Nominee Does Not Belong to Any Community); and
4. the Political Donation Certificate issued to him.

The nominee must also ensure that the election deposit is deposited before 12 noon on Nomination Day.

The Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at the designated Nomination Centre (which houses the Nomination Place) between 11 am and 12 noon on Nomination Day, by the nominee in person together with his 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 still be delivered within the times specified in the Returning Officer’s public notice of such change. Nomination papers that are submitted late will not be accepted.

Before 12 noon on Nomination Day, 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. In such a case, a fresh Nomination Paper must be delivered.

A candidate can withdraw his nomination for election any time before 12 noon on Nomination Day. After 12 noon on Nomination Day, a nomination cannot be withdrawn.

To withdraw the nomination for election, the person nominated must appear in person and file a written notice of withdrawal with the Returning Officer at the Nomination Place.

Nomination papers that are accepted by the Returning Officer are open to inspection by other candidates and their respective subscribers and one other persons.

Objections to the nomination of a candidate may be made by a rival candidate, his proposer, seconder, or assentors, or one other person. The Returning Officer may also raise objections.

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

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 12(1) of the Presidential Elections Act 1991, 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 or leaves his occupation blank.

2. The Nomination Paper does not comply with or were not delivered in accordance with the Presidential Elections Act 1991. For example:

   1. the Nomination Paper is not signed by the 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 on any of the Registers of Electors;
   3. the Nomination Paper is not accompanied by a Certificate of Eligibility, a Political Donation Certificate or the Community Certificate (or documents that may be submitted in lieu thereof);
   4. the Nomination Paper is not delivered by the candidate in person, together with the proposer, seconder and at least four assentors; or
   5. the statutory declaration in the Nomination Paper is not properly completed.
3. It is apparent from the contents of the Nomination Paper that the candidate is not qualified to be elected to the office of President. For example, the Nomination Paper states the nominee’s occupation as “Civil Servant”.
4. The provisions of section 10 of the Presidential Elections Act 1991 have not been observed. For example, the Nomination Paper is not accompanied by the required election deposit.

The Returning Officer at the Nomination Place 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 should complete their Nomination Paper carefully and double-check that all required documents are complete and present.

If there is only one candidate nominated, the Returning Officer will declare the candidate to be duly elected as the President. A poll will not be held. The Returning Officer may make this declaration shortly after 12 noon on Nomination Day if at 12 noon, only one candidate stands nominated. Otherwise, the declaration will be made immediately after 12.30 pm.

If more than one candidate is nominated for the election, the Returning Officer will declare each of those candidates to be duly nominated and prepare to conduct a poll for that election. The Returning Officer will issue to every candidate a set of documents which includes:

1. the permit to display banners, flags and posters in public places;
2. the official stamps for banners, flags and posters; and
3. the list of voter's 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 Speeches by Candidates at Nomination Centre for details on the process for the delivery of these Thank-you speeches.

The conduct of any other speech or address in and around the Nomination Centre by the candidate (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 candidates’ 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. the use of handphones for video- and/or photo-taking is strictly prohibited within the Nomination Place;
2. smoking of tobacco products (including imitation tobacco products) is strictly prohibited within the Nomination Centre;
3. supporters of candidates may only display or exhibit flags, banners and placards containing their candidate’s image or symbol approved by the Returning Officer, after the close of nomination proceedings at the candidate’s Thank-you speech;
4. any speeches other than those delivered by candidates with the Returning Officer’s approval will not be allowed at the Nomination Centre;
5. 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;
6. candidates are not allowed to hold press conferences at the Nomination Centre; and
7. to ensure public safety, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are not permitted to be flown at Nomination Centre.

Given the public order, security and safety concerns, security measures and security checks will be conducted in and around the Nomination Centre. Candidates and their supporters are to comply with the security measures that are put in place.

Candidates will be issued with two carpark labels each and allowed to park in the Nomination Centre. To ensure that their Nomination papers are submitted in time, candidates are advised to come early for nomination. Candidates, their subscribers, one other person and supporters are not to bring sharp object(s), flammable liquids or gas, bulky items or big bags.

The following acts, which may be committed in and 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; and
5. illegal hawking of magazines, newsletters, books, etc.