[JUST IN] GE2025: Parliament’s dissolved, Singaporeans will go to the polls on May 3

Parliament was dissolved today (April 15), and the Writ of Election was issued by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the request of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Nomination Day will be next Wednesday (April 23), and Polling Day is set for Saturday (May 3).

The announcement comes about a month after the announcement of the electoral boundaries, which saw major changes to several constituencies—only five Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and four Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) unchanged from the previous election.

Here’s a timeline of what to expect in the lead-up to the formation of the new government, including key dates and what voters should take note of:

Nomination Day

Nomination Day must occur between five days and one month from the Writ of Election, and in this case, it has been set for eight days after the writ was issued.

On Nomination Day, hopeful candidates must submit their nomination papers and certificates to the Returning Officer in person between 11 am and 12 pm.

They must also pay an election deposit (8% of the total allowances paid to MPs in the preceding year) before submitting their nominations.

At 12 pm, candidates get half an hour to study one another’s applications and raise any objections they have to the Returning Officer.

When nomination is closed, SMCs that have more than one candidate nominated and GRCs with more than one group of candidates nominated will be contested for.

If only one candidate or group of candidates remains nominated in any SMC or GRC, they win by default. This is also called a walkover.

Notice of Contested Election

With all candidates confirmed, the Returning Officer will issue a Notice of Contested Elections.

This informs the public about the candidates who are running for each SMC and GRC, the date of Polling Day, and the locations of all polling stations.

Polling Day has to fall between 10 and 56 days after this notice is issued.

Campaigning

Candidates can start campaigning immediately after the notice of contested election is issued.

During this time, they can seek permits from the Commissioner of Police to hold rallies. They are also allowed to campaign online through platforms like apps, websites, forums and social media.

Campaigning will stop one day before Polling Day. This is known as the Cooling-off Day, a 24-hour silence period meant to allow voters to reflect on issues that were raised.

Polling Day

On Polling Day, qualified voters go to their polling stations to cast their votes at any time between 8 am and 8 pm. Polling Day is a public holiday by law.

Singaporeans who are overseas and have registered as overseas electors will also cast their votes. 

Due to time differences, they might start voting earlier than electors in Singapore, but overseas polling must be closed before polling ends in Singapore.

Counting of votes

After polling stations are closed, ballot boxes are sealed and transported to their respective counting centres.

The counting process starts with a sample count to provide an early indication of the possible outcome for each electoral division.

The counting of votes is conducted in the presence of the candidates or their counting agents. In the event that the difference in the number of votes between two parties is 2% or less, candidates may request for a recount.

After the votes are consolidated, the Returning Officer concludes whether overseas votes will have any impact on the results.

If overseas votes may potentially change the result in a particular SMC or GRC, the Returning Officer will declare that the results for that division are inconclusive until overseas votes have been brought back to Singapore and counted.

In divisions where overseas votes will not impact the result, the Returning Officer can immediately declare which candidate or candidates have been elected.

The final results will be published in the Singapore Government Gazette.

Elected candidates form the Parliament

Elected candidates for every electoral division will take their seats as Members of Parliament (MP).

If one political party holds more than 50% of the seats in Parliament, the MPs of that party will form Singapore’s Government.

If there is no political party holding more than 50% of the seats in Parliament, two or more parties may form a coalition government, or a smaller party may form a minority government.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Featured Image Credit: Elections Department via Facebook/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post