GE2025: Singapore set to go to the polls on May 3, after Nomination Day on Apr 23
Singaporeans should decide on the team to lead the nation ‘at this critical juncture’, says PM Wong
[SINGAPORE] Singapore is set to go to the polls on May 3 in a closely watched general election that marks Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s first electoral outing since taking the helm last year.
If more than one candidate or group of candidates is nominated, the returning officer will declare May 3 to be Polling Day, said the Elections Department in a statement. Polling Day, which falls on a Saturday, will be a public holiday.
In a Facebook post, PM Wong said the world is seeing profound changes and “becoming more uncertain, unsettled and even unstable”.
“The global conditions that enabled Singapore’s success over the past decades may no longer hold,” he warned.
“That is why I have called this General Election. At this critical juncture, Singaporeans should decide on the team to lead our nation, and to chart our way forward together.”
Nomination Day is set for Apr 23, marking the start of a nine-day campaigning period before Cooling-off Day on May 2.
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Interested candidates must file their papers at one of the nine nomination centres on Apr 23, from 11 am to noon.
The Writ of Election was issued by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at 4 pm on Tuesday (Apr 15), after he dissolved Parliament in a Government Gazette notice an hour before.
The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has been officially introducing its candidates for various constituencies since Saturday, starting with PM Wong’s team for Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
At the event, PM Wong told reporters that the PAP will field more than 30 new candidates, the largest slate of new faces in recent history. The line-up will include the core of the next generation leadership.
Ready for battle
Shortly after the writ was issued, the opposition Workers’ Party made Facebook and Instagram posts with its campaign slogan “Working For Singapore”, saying its mission remains the same, even as its slogans have changed over the years.
“The Workers’ Party prides itself on contributing to unity in diversity. Our voices aim to represent the diverse Singaporean population, while working towards a First World Parliament,” the party said.
In an accompanying video, Sengkang GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Jamus Lim said: “The only way that successful new ideas can come to fruition is through a contestation, and that’s necessary and healthy for any mature democracy.”
Separately, Progress Singapore Party secretary-general Leong Mun Wai said his party has been “hard at work preparing for GE2025 despite the redrawn boundaries and the short time to engage new residents”.
Singapore’s electoral boundaries saw widespread changes in the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s (EBRC) recommendations released on Mar 11.
Leong noted that he and fellow Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa have filed more than 700 parliamentary questions, eight private members’ full motions, six adjournment motions and one private member’s Bill over the last five years.
“PSP stands on its track record, and ready to engage the voters to buy into its vision of ‘Progress For All’ for Singapore,” he said.
The Singapore People’s Party said it is committed to fielding five candidates: in the four-member Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and the Potong Pasir Single-Member Constituency (SMC).
“Our focus will be on addressing the pressing concerns of Singaporeans, including the rising cost of living, income inequality and the need for more inclusive policies that cater to all segments of society,” it added.
Meanwhile, two opposition parties have criticised the timing of the general election.
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) objected to Parliament being dissolved a “mere 35 days” after the EBRC report’s release, calling this the shortest in recent memory. (*see amendment note)
Voters should be “given ample time to become thoroughly familiar with the parties, their platforms and candidates so that they can make informed decisions at the polls”, said SDP.
Red Dot United said the timeline is “both unfair and strategically engineered to benefit the ruling party” as the May Day Rally falls just before Cooling-off Day, when campaigning is no longer allowed.
A bigger election
There are 2,758,095 registered electors, said the Elections Department on Mar 24. This is a nearly 4 per cent increase from 2020.
They will vote in 33 electoral divisions: 18 GRCs and 15 SMCs, with one more of each than in 2020. There will be 97 elected seats this election, up from 93 in 2020.
Both the ruling and opposition parties have been ramping up their activities since the release of the EBRC report, and all seats are likely to be contested, with some possibly seeing multi-cornered fights.
Forms of nomination papers may be obtained from the office of the returning officer from 8.30 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and 8.30 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
Each nomination paper must be signed by at least six electors qualified to vote in the electoral division where the candidate is seeking election. The election deposit has been set at S$13,500, unchanged from 2020.
Watchers previously told The Business Times that they expect the cost of living to top voters’ list of concerns going into the polls.
In Budget 2025, PM Wong, in his capacity as finance minister, announced a bumper crop of vouchers and rebates – including a one-off SG60 package – while stepping up investments in training and to spur innovation.
For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
*Amendment note: An earlier version of this story quoted SDP saying the period between Parliament being dissolved and the release of EBRC’s report was 28 days. SDP has clarified that it is 35 days.
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