Presidential Election 2023: ELD releases schedule of TV broadcasts, forums; warns against foreign interference
CAMPAIGNING for Singapore’s upcoming presidential election will include television broadcasts on Aug 24 and Aug 30, as well as live forums organised by CNA and The Straits Times.
The Elections Department (ELD) released these details on Saturday (Aug 12), while warning against foreign intereference in the upcoming election and reiterating campaigning guidelines.
Campaigning will commence soon after Nomination Day on Aug 22, if more than one candidate qualifies. Should the election be contested, Singaporeans will head to the ballot boxes to vote for the country’s ninth president on Polling Day on Sep 1.
Each presidential candidate will get two separate blocks of airtime to broadcast their messages on television and over radio, in all or any of Singapore’s four official languages. The maximum time for each candidate is 10 minutes per language per broadcast.
These broadcasts will be aired across all of Mediacorp’s television channels, as well as Mediacorp, SPH and SoDrama! radio channels.
Separately, a presidential forum by Mediacorp will be broadcast on CNA and livestreamed on CNA’s YouTube and Facebook pages on Aug 28, with a repeat telecast on Channel 5 on Aug 29.
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A separate question and answer segment with the presidential candidates and young Singaporeans will be released on ST’s website and social media platforms on Aug 27.
The ELD reiterated the principles for the presidential election campaign, noting that it “should befit the dignity and role of the President” and differ from that of a general election campaign.
There will be no designated rally sites for this election. Such events, “by their nature and format, may be divisive and not congruent with the unifying role of the Elected Presidency”, said ELD.
If candidates still wish to hold such election meetings, they must obtain approval from the venue owner and apply for a police permit. For safety and security reasons, they are encouraged to hold these meetings at sports stadiums or indoor venues.
Police permit applications may only be submitted after the close of nomination proceedings, and must be handed in at least two days before the intended date of the election meeting.
Candidates can also reach out to voters through social media platforms and websites, perambulating vehicles, and physical advertisements. But any campaign messages or advertisements on these platforms must comply with the rules under the Presidential Elections Act and the Presidential Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations.
Candidates must keep within the election expenses limit stipulated in the Presidential Elections Act: S$600,000 or 30 cents per elector on the Registers of Electors, whichever is greater. Based on the number of electors in the registers as of Aug 11, the limit for the upcoming election is S$812,822.10.
ELD also warned against the possibility of foreign interference, calling on Singaporeans to “exerise individual vigilance”, and on candidates to raise their awareness of potential threats from foreign actors and be on alert for “suspicious behaviours and agendas”.
Should any candidate suspect that he is a target of foreign interference activity, he should make a police report and inform ELD. Only Singapore citizens can take part in elections and campaigning.
Candidates should also “steer away from negative campaigning based on hate and denigration of opposing candidates” and avoid false statements or statements that affect social cohesion, said ELD.
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