GE Guide

Now that the much awaited dates have been announced, what can you expect over the next two weeks? From Nomination Day to Polling Day, we bring you a snapshot of what happens at each stage of the election process.

Nomination Day
27 April

Between 11am and noon that day, candidates will have to file their papers in the nine designated nomination centres.

The nomination papers have to be signed by the candidate, proposer, seconder and at least four assentors. These six signatories must be present at the nomination centre along with the candidate.

Any objections to nominations must be filed by 12.30 pm.

At the close of the nomination period, the (Assistant) Returning Officer will declare a walkover in constituencies that are not contested.

For constituencies that are contested, the names of the candidates will be displayed on a notice board at the nomination centre.

There are two key forms that candidates my apply for by Monday, April 24. These are:

• Statutory Declaration - minority-race candidates need to apply for a certificate that confirms their ethnicity
• Political Donations Certificate - this certifies that candidates have not received any donations from unpermitted sources in the past 12 months.

Campaigning
27 April - 5 May

The battle begins once nomination closes.

Campaigning involves house-to-house visits, distribution of pamphlets, display of banners and posters.

Parties will also hold election rallies and each will be given airtime for party political broadcasts on television and radio to explain their campaign platforms.

Parties that wish to hold election rallies need to book for the designated rally site at least 24 hours before the rally proper.

The booking is done at the Police Cantonment Complex.

The Police Force announced that it will institute security measures during election rallies to ensure public safety.

It also announced an extension of the application deadline for meetings and rallies on Nomination Day. Parties now have up to 4.00 pm, an hour and a half later than the previous 2.30 pm deadline.

The permit office will also remain open on a Sunday or a public holiday.

Polling Day
6 May

Polling Day is a holiday and polling stations are open from 8 am to 8 pm.

Parties are not allowed to campaign on Polling Day.

Once polling closed, the ballot boxes are sealed and delivered to their respective counting centres, where they are opened in the presence of the candidates and their counting agents before the voting slips are counted.

Candidates are informed once the results are collated at the electoral division levels.

All results are announced over the television and radio, by the Returning Officer at the Elections Department at Princep Link.

Party supporters are not allowed at the premises. They are instead to gather at designated assembly centres to await the results.

The Prime Minister and other PAP leaders will likely call for a news conference once all the results are announced.