Singapore Elections - Presidential Elections

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Presidential Elections

1. Legislations on Presidential Elections
There are legislations governing the conduct of the Presidential Election:

a.	The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (The Government, Part V (Chapter 1) - The President);
b.	The Presidential Elections Act (Chapter 240A); and
c.	The Political Donations Act (Chapter 236).
d.	Subsidiary Legislations.

2. The President
The citizens of Singapore in accordance with the above legislations elect the President. The President shall be the Head of State and hold office for a term of 6 years.

3. The Right to Vote
The registers of electors in operation are in accordance with the Parliamentary Elections Act at the time of any election and shall be conclusive evidence of a person’s right to vote at the election.

4. Conduct of Election
The Presidential Election has to be conducted as follows:

a.	within 6 months after the office of the President becomes vacant prior to the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent; or
b.	not more than 3 months before the date of expiration of the term of office of the incumbent.

5. Writ of Election
The Prime Minister will issue a writ under the public seal, addressed to the Returning Officer specifying:

a.	the date of nomination not less than 5 days nor more than one month after the date of the writ; and
b.	the place of nomination.

6. Notice of Election
After the Prime Minister has issued the writ, the Returning Officer will issue a notice, at least 4 clear days before the Nomination Day, stipulating:

the date, time and place of the nomination of candidates;

the nomination paper to be signed by:

>	the candidate;
>	the proposer;
>	the seconder; and
>	at least four assentors
The proposer, seconder and assentors' names must appear in any electoral division of the registers of electors in operation;

the payment of deposit (a sum equal to 3 times the amount of deposit payable by a candidate under the Parliamentary Elections Act [section 28(1)]);

Statutory declaration by the candidate of his qualifications and that on nomination day he is not a member of any political party;

Political Donation Certificate issued by the Registrar of Political Donations; and

Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Presidential Elections Committee.

7. Presidential Elections Committee

7.1

The function of the Presidential Elections Committee is to ensure that candidates for the office of President have the qualifications referred to in Article 19 of the Constitution. The Chairman of the Public Service Commission chairs the Committee, which comprises 2 other members - one is the Chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and the other is a member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.

7.2

Any person who desires to be elected to the Office of President shall apply to the Presidential Elections Committee for a Certificate, if qualified. The Certificate shall be issued to the applicant not later than the day before Nomination Day.

8. Nomination Day

8.1	Candidates are required to present their nomination papers, statutory declarations and certificates personally at the nomination centre between 11.00 am and 12.00 noon, with their proposers, seconders and at least 4 assentors.
8.2	At the close of the nomination period, if only one candidate stands nominated, the Returning Officer will declare at the nomination centre that the nominated candidate be elected to the office of President.
8.3	Where more than one candidate stands nominated, the Returning Officer will adjourn to a date when a poll will be taken, i.e. Polling Day. The Returning Officer will allot to each candidate an approved symbol.

9. Notice of Contested Election
The notice of contested election, issued by the Returning Officer, will specify:

a.	the date of the poll (not less than 9 days nor more than 8 weeks after publication of the notice);
b.	the names and symbols of the candidates and the names of their proposers and seconders; and
c.	the names and locations of the polling stations.

10. Campaigning
Candidates can only start their election campaigns after the close of nomination up to the eve of Polling Day. They can conduct house-to-house visits, distribute pamphlets, put up posters and banners and hold elections rallies. Candidates may also be given air-time by the television stations. Each candidate can spend up to $600,000 or an amount equal to 30 cents per elector on the registers, whichever is the greater.

11. Polling Day
VOTING IS SECRET AND COMPULSORY. Every voter will receive a poll card informing him of polling day and the name and location of his polling station. He must vote in person. Proxy is not allowed nor is there any provision for postal voting.

Polling usually takes place from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm. After the close of the poll, the ballot boxes are sealed and witnessed by the candidates and/or their agents. The ballot boxes are then delivered to their respective counting centres. The ballot boxes will be opened in the presence of the candidates and/or their counting agents. The ballot papers are then sorted and counted.

After the count, the Assistant Returning Officer will transmit the results of counting to the Returning Officer at the principal counting place. The Returning Officer will compile the results received from all counting centres in Singapore. If the overseas votes have no impact on the outcome of the election, the Returning Officer will declare the candidate to whom the greatest number of votes is given to be elected. If the overseas votes have an impact on the outcome, the Returning Officer will announce the number of votes cast in Singapore in favour of each candidate, and name the date and premises where the overseas votes will be counted. After counting the overseas votes, the Returning Officer will prepare the Statement of Poll. The results will be published in the government gazette.

Last Updated on: 18 Apr 2006