Elections in Singapore
Encyclopedia
There are currently two types of elections in Singapore: parliamentary
and presidential
elections.
While the Constitution of Singapore does not specify exactly when elections need to be held, Parliamentary or General Elections are generally 5 years apart, while Presidential elections are generally held 6 years apart.
The Parliament of Singapore
is unicameral with 87 seats. Since the Legislative Assembly election in 1959, the government of Singapore
has always been formed by the People's Action Party
with an overwhelming majority, and in several elections the only party elected.
has won every single seat in every election held, forming a parliament with no elected opposition MPs for almost two decades.
In 1984, opposition politicians secured an elected seat in parliament for the first time in a general election. 2 seats out of 74 seats went to opposition politicians. In 1988, the opposition won 1 seat out of 77 seats. In 1991, the opposition won 4 seats out of 81 seats. In 1997, 2001 and 2006, the opposition secured 2 seats for each respective election.
Throughout the history of the Republic of Singapore, only 10 opposition politicians have ever been elected into parliament before. They are Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
, Chiam See Tong
, Low Thia Khiang
, Ling How Doong
, Cheo Chai Chen, Lim Swee Lian Sylvia, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh, Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap and Yaw Shin Leong.
The campaigning time for elections in Singapore is very short. The legal minimum campaign time, from when the election is announced to polling day, is nine days. This minimum campaigning time is generally used in Singaporean elections. The announcement of the election follows the announcement of new constituency boundaries.
Walkover
rates for parliamentary elections are extremely high when compared to international norms. Since 1991, walkover rates have hovered around 50% for each election. This means that around 50% of the seats of each election are uncontested and the People's Action Party
wins them by default without constituents having to cast a single vote. Even before the votes are counted, the PAP has more or less won the election due to extremely high walkover rates.
The electoral system reduces the chances of opposition representation in Parliament with a "winner takes all" system for Group Representation Constituencies. However, Freedom House
has noted that elections in Singapore are technically free of electoral fraud.
1. a person of integrity, good character and reputation; and
2. has held for at least 3 years a cabinet ministerial post, headed a statutory board, or been a CEO of a company incorporated in Singapore worth over $100 million in paid-up capital, or has equivalent management experience.
Because of the high requirements needed to run for presidential elections, many presidential elections have been uncontested. All presidential elections have been walkovers except for the first one, held in 1993 which was contested by two people. The first presidential election was won by Ong Teng Cheong
, a former member of the PAP. Subsequent presidential elections in 1999 and 2005 have been won by S.R. Nathan through walkovers.
The 2011 presidential election was contested by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Dr Tan Cheng Bock
, Tan Jee Say
and Tan Kin Lian
. All candidates except Tan Jee Say were former members of the PAP. The election was won by Tony Tan with a margin of 0.34% over Tan Cheng Bock.
or working opposition team in parliament.
This is due to the effectiveness of the Singapore government in providing a high standard of living and low unemployment rate in Singapore, as well as the lack of corruption (Singapore is ranked among the "least corrupt" by the Corruption Perceptions Index
). Though this does not explain why other comparable countries have significant opposition parties.
has spoken about this "climate of fear" many times. She argues that a climate of fear hurts Singapore.
In Singapore, opposition politicians and trade unionists have been detained in prison without trial before in the 1960s early 1970s. Many such as Lim Chin Siong
, Said Zahari
and Lim Hock Siew have been accused by the government for being involved in subversive communist struggles. Among them, Chia Thye Poh
was detained the longest, he was detained for 23 years without any trial.
In 1988, Francis Seow
, former solicitor general of Singapore and opposition politician, was also detained without trial. He was later charged with tax evasion but he fled overseas and sought asylum successfully in the USA. He was convicted of tax evasion in absentia
.
Prominent opposition politicians such as Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
and Chee Soon Juan
have also been sued for defamation by government politicians under Singapore's strict libel laws. They were both bankrupted and made to pay a few hundred thousand dollars in compensation.
Tang Liang Hong
, another opposition politician and a former solicitor, was also sued for defamation by government politicians in 1997. He was convicted of defamation and ended up bankrupt. He subsequently left Singapore for Australia. In the 1990s, another Worker Party member Gopalan Nair left Singapore and obtained asylum successfully in the USA.
In recent years, Chee Soon Juan
and his party members have been jailed for assembling and speaking in public without a police permit. (Police permits are required for public speeches and assemblies of more than 5 person). Chee was jailed in 2010 again for gathering with party members to distribute his party's flyers without a police permit.
may also be held for important national issues, although it has been held only once in Singapore's political history for the 1962 merger referendum
. Calls for a national referendum has been made since then, including the issue over the building of casino
s in Singapore.
. Since on August 13, 2005, the Presidential Elections Committee announced that Sellapan Ramanathan was the only candidate that had received the Certificate of Eligibility, he was named the next President without election.
:More info: Singapore presidential election, 2005
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
and presidential
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
elections.
While the Constitution of Singapore does not specify exactly when elections need to be held, Parliamentary or General Elections are generally 5 years apart, while Presidential elections are generally held 6 years apart.
The Parliament of Singapore
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
is unicameral with 87 seats. Since the Legislative Assembly election in 1959, the government of Singapore
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
has always been formed by the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
with an overwhelming majority, and in several elections the only party elected.
Parliamentary elections
From Singapore's independence in 1968 to 1981, the People's Action PartyPeople's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
has won every single seat in every election held, forming a parliament with no elected opposition MPs for almost two decades.
In 1984, opposition politicians secured an elected seat in parliament for the first time in a general election. 2 seats out of 74 seats went to opposition politicians. In 1988, the opposition won 1 seat out of 77 seats. In 1991, the opposition won 4 seats out of 81 seats. In 1997, 2001 and 2006, the opposition secured 2 seats for each respective election.
Throughout the history of the Republic of Singapore, only 10 opposition politicians have ever been elected into parliament before. They are Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He was the leader of the Workers' Party from 1971 to 2001...
, Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He is the country's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament . Between 1984 and 2011, he represented the constituency of Potong Pasir in Singapore's Parliament....
, Low Thia Khiang
Low Thia Khiang
Low Thia Khiang is a politician and businessman from Singapore. He is currently the leader of the opposition Workers' Party, and since 1991 has been a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Hougang until 2011 where he contested and won in Aljunied GRC. He is in charge of the Bedok...
, Ling How Doong
Ling How Doong
Ling How Doong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. A member of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party , he served as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bukit Gombak from 1991 to 1997.-Political career:...
, Cheo Chai Chen, Lim Swee Lian Sylvia, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh, Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap and Yaw Shin Leong.
The campaigning time for elections in Singapore is very short. The legal minimum campaign time, from when the election is announced to polling day, is nine days. This minimum campaigning time is generally used in Singaporean elections. The announcement of the election follows the announcement of new constituency boundaries.
Walkover
Walkover
In British English, a walkover or W.O. is the awarding of a victory to a contestant because there are no other contestants, or because the other contestants have been disqualified or have forfeited. The term can apply in sport, but can also apply to elections...
rates for parliamentary elections are extremely high when compared to international norms. Since 1991, walkover rates have hovered around 50% for each election. This means that around 50% of the seats of each election are uncontested and the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
wins them by default without constituents having to cast a single vote. Even before the votes are counted, the PAP has more or less won the election due to extremely high walkover rates.
The electoral system reduces the chances of opposition representation in Parliament with a "winner takes all" system for Group Representation Constituencies. However, Freedom House
Freedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
has noted that elections in Singapore are technically free of electoral fraud.
Presidential elections
Presidential elections have been held since 1993. Under the "Presidential Elections Act", to run for President, one must obtain a "certificate of eligibility" from the Presidential Elections Committee. To obtain this certificate, one must be:1. a person of integrity, good character and reputation; and
2. has held for at least 3 years a cabinet ministerial post, headed a statutory board, or been a CEO of a company incorporated in Singapore worth over $100 million in paid-up capital, or has equivalent management experience.
Because of the high requirements needed to run for presidential elections, many presidential elections have been uncontested. All presidential elections have been walkovers except for the first one, held in 1993 which was contested by two people. The first presidential election was won by Ong Teng Cheong
Ong Teng Cheong
Ong Teng Cheong was the first directly elected President of the Republic of Singapore. He was the nation's fifth President, and served a six-year term from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1999.-Early life:...
, a former member of the PAP. Subsequent presidential elections in 1999 and 2005 have been won by S.R. Nathan through walkovers.
The 2011 presidential election was contested by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Dr Tan Cheng Bock
Tan Cheng Bock
Tan Cheng Bock is a politician and physician from Singapore. Tan was a People's Action Party Member of Parliament in Singapore politics for 26 years and the first non cabinet minister elected into the People's Action Party Central Executive Committee .-Early life:Tan was educated at Radin Mas...
, Tan Jee Say
Tan Jee Say
Tan Jee Say is a Singaporean investment adviser, politician and former civil servant. He was a principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and contested the 2011 general election under the opposition Singapore Democratic Party , but failed to win a seat...
and Tan Kin Lian
Tan Kin Lian
Tan Kin Lian is the former CEO of NTUC Income. Since stepping down as CEO in April 2007, his activities have included organising public rallies for people who lost their money due to investing in Lehman Brothers' Minibond products to seek redress, and setting up FISCA, an organisation to teach...
. All candidates except Tan Jee Say were former members of the PAP. The election was won by Tony Tan with a margin of 0.34% over Tan Cheng Bock.
Populace is contented with the government
The first possibility is that the Singapore populace is fully contented with the government and does not see the need for a shadow cabinetShadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
or working opposition team in parliament.
This is due to the effectiveness of the Singapore government in providing a high standard of living and low unemployment rate in Singapore, as well as the lack of corruption (Singapore is ranked among the "least corrupt" by the Corruption Perceptions Index
Corruption Perceptions Index
Since 1995, Transparency International publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index annually ranking countries "by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys." The CPI generally defines corruption as "the misuse of public power for private...
). Though this does not explain why other comparable countries have significant opposition parties.
Opposition views
The second possibility is that the Singapore populace is enveloped in a climate of fear, hence they do not dare to run for elections. Dr Catherine LimCatherine Lim
Catherine Lim is a best-selling Singaporean fiction author known for writing about Singapore society and of themes of traditional Chinese culture. Hailed as the "doyenne of Singapore writers", Lim has published nine collections of short stories, five novels, two poetry collections and numerous...
has spoken about this "climate of fear" many times. She argues that a climate of fear hurts Singapore.
In Singapore, opposition politicians and trade unionists have been detained in prison without trial before in the 1960s early 1970s. Many such as Lim Chin Siong
Lim Chin Siong
Lim Chin Siong was an influential leftwing politician and trade union leader in Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s.-Early life:Born in Telok Ayer Street, Lim studied first in Johor, before entering Singapore’s Catholic High School and Chinese High School in 1949 and 1950 respectively...
, Said Zahari
Said Zahari
Said Zahari was a one time editor-in-chief of the Malay-language newspaper Utusan Melayu and an advocate of unbiased press freedom. Although he currently resides in Malaysia with his family, he has insisted on retaining his Singapore citizenship....
and Lim Hock Siew have been accused by the government for being involved in subversive communist struggles. Among them, Chia Thye Poh
Chia Thye Poh
Chia Thye Poh was the longest-serving political prisoner in the history of Singapore and perhaps the longest-serving prisoner of conscience of the 20th century, if not one of its longest-serving political prisoners....
was detained the longest, he was detained for 23 years without any trial.
In 1988, Francis Seow
Francis Seow
Francis Seow is a Singapore-born political dissident who is in exile from Singapore after lawsuits by the former Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew. He was educated at Saint Joseph's Institution in Singapore and at the Middle Temple in London...
, former solicitor general of Singapore and opposition politician, was also detained without trial. He was later charged with tax evasion but he fled overseas and sought asylum successfully in the USA. He was convicted of tax evasion in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
.
Prominent opposition politicians such as Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He was the leader of the Workers' Party from 1971 to 2001...
and Chee Soon Juan
Chee Soon Juan
Chee Soon Juan, PhD is a politician and political activist from Singapore. He is currently the leader of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party ....
have also been sued for defamation by government politicians under Singapore's strict libel laws. They were both bankrupted and made to pay a few hundred thousand dollars in compensation.
Tang Liang Hong
Tang Liang Hong
Tang Liang Hong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore.Tang stood as a candidate for the opposition Workers' Party in the Cheng San Group Representation Constituency at the 1997 general election...
, another opposition politician and a former solicitor, was also sued for defamation by government politicians in 1997. He was convicted of defamation and ended up bankrupt. He subsequently left Singapore for Australia. In the 1990s, another Worker Party member Gopalan Nair left Singapore and obtained asylum successfully in the USA.
In recent years, Chee Soon Juan
Chee Soon Juan
Chee Soon Juan, PhD is a politician and political activist from Singapore. He is currently the leader of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party ....
and his party members have been jailed for assembling and speaking in public without a police permit. (Police permits are required for public speeches and assemblies of more than 5 person). Chee was jailed in 2010 again for gathering with party members to distribute his party's flyers without a police permit.
Referendums
A referendumReferendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
may also be held for important national issues, although it has been held only once in Singapore's political history for the 1962 merger referendum
Singapore national referendum, 1962
The Singapore national referendum of 1962, or also commonly referred to as the Merger Referendum of Singapore was the first and only referendum to date held in Singapore on September 1, 1962. It called for people to vote on the terms of merger with Malaysia...
. Calls for a national referendum has been made since then, including the issue over the building of casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s in Singapore.
2011 Presidential election
2011 General election
2006 General election
2005 Presidential election
The Singapore presidential election of 2005 was to be held on 27 August 2005 to elect the President of SingaporePresident of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
. Since on August 13, 2005, the Presidential Elections Committee announced that Sellapan Ramanathan was the only candidate that had received the Certificate of Eligibility, he was named the next President without election.
:More info: Singapore presidential election, 2005
Singapore presidential election, 2005
The Singapore presidential election of 2005 was held to elect the President of Singapore. The incumbent S. R. Nathan's first term was to end on August 31, 2005...
Legislative Council elections
- 1948 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1948The Legislative Council General Elections was the first election to be held in Singapore, taking place on 21 March 1948 when six of the 22 seats on the Legislative Council were open for popular voting, albeit only for British subjects. The election was announced on 1 February, and nominations were...
- 1951 General Election
Legislative Assembly elections
- 1955 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1955The 1955 Legislative Assembly General Elections was held in Singapore on 2 April 1955 to elect twenty-five elective seats on the Legislative Assembly...
- 1957 By-ElectionSingaporean by-election, 1957By election was held on 29 June 1957 while the nomination day occurred on 18 May 1957 in Cairnhill and Tanjong Pagar was due to David Marshall from Labor Front's resignation as Chief Minister on 7 June 1956 after his initiated talks with British authorities for self-governance broke down...
- 1959 General Election
- 1961 By-Election (Both April and July)Singaporean by-election, 1961-Background:There were 2 by elections held in 1961. The first by election was held on 29 April 1961 and the nomination day was held on 11 March 1961 while the second by election was held on 15 July 1961 with the nomination day held on 10 June 1961....
- 1963 General Election
- 1965 By-ElectionSingaporean by-election, 1965-Background:Merely a month before Singapore's separation from Malaysia and independence, UPP chief and sole Assembly Member Ong Eng Guan resigned his seat and retired from politics. This last Legislative Assembly election became a straight fight between Singapore's two main parties - the People's...
Parliamentary elections
- 1966 By-Election (January, March & November)Singaporean by-election, 1966-Background:There were 3 By-elections held within 1966, with the first triggered just 4 months after separation from Malaysia on 8 December 1965. Lim Huan Boon from Barisan Sosialis , who started the trigger of the BS boycott of Parliament because they claimed that Singapore's independence was...
- 1967 By-ElectionSingaporean by-election, 1967The Singaporean by-election of 1967 was triggered by the final batch of mass resignations from Barisan Sosialis 's elected Members of Parliament who heeded to Lim Huan Boon's call on the grounds that Singapore's independence was "phony" because no discussion of Singapore's separation matter was...
- 1968 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1968General elections were held in Singapore on 19 April 1968, the first after independence from Malaysia. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 58 seats, the first of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat...
- 1970 By-ElectionSingaporean by-election, 1970-Background:Instead of mass resignations made by the members of Barisan Sosialis in the parliament who opted to protest and "struggle for democracy" on the streets as the 1968 general election had effectively removed all oppositions from the parliament, this time it was five members from People's...
- 1972 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1972General elections were held in Singapore on 2 September 1972. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 65 seats, the second of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat...
- 1976 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1976General elections were held in Singapore on 23 December 1976. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 69 seats, the third of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat...
- 1977 By-Election (May & November)Singaporean by-election, 1977-Background:There were 2 by elections held in 1977 where both People's Action Party's Member of Parliament, N. Govindasamy and Lim Guan Hoo had died which vacates Radin Mas and Bukit Merah respectively. Through co-operation within the opposition camp, no 3 corner / multiple corner fights were shown...
- 1980 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1980General elections were held in Singapore on 23 December 1980. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 75 seats, the last of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat...
- 1981 By-ElectionSingaporean by-election, 1981By election was held on 31 October 1981 while the nomination day was held on 21 October 1981 because the original MP of Anson constituency C. V. Devan Nair had been nominated as the third President of Singapore, succeeding Benjamin Henry Sheares who had died on 12 May 1981.-Historical...
- 1984 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1984General elections were held in Singapore on 22 December 1984. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 77 of the 79 seats, marking the first time since 1963 that they had not won every seat...
- 1988 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1988General elections were held in Singapore on 3 September 1988. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 80 of the 81 seats...
- 1991 General ElectionSingaporean general election, 1991General elections were held in Singapore on 31 August 1991. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 77 of the 81 seats...
- 1992 By-ElectionSingaporean by-election, 1992-Background and historical significance:This was the first and only by election in a Group Representation Constituency held in Singapore on 19 December 1992 with the nomination day set at 9 December 1992...
- 1997 General Election
- 2001 General Election
- 2006 General Election
- 2011 General Election
Municipal Commission elections
- 1949 Ordinary Election
City Council elections
- 1957 Ordinary ElectionSingapore City Council election, 1957The 1957 Singapore City Council Elections was the first for the newly renamed council, as well as the first to open all seats for direct popular voting. Nomination day was on 18 November 1957, with voting held on 21 December in the same year....
- 1958 By-ElectionSingapore City Council by-election, 1958The Singapore City Council by-election of 1958 was held after the resignation of Chang Yuen Tong, a member who held the seat for Kallang Constituency...
Federal and State elections (Malaysia)
- 1964 General ElectionMalaysian general election, 1964General elections were held in Malaysia on 25 April 1964. The result was a victory for the Alliance Party, which won 89 of the 104 seats. Voter turnout was 78.9%.The result also contributed towards the eventual expulsion of Singapore from Malaysia...
Presidential elections
- 1993 Presidential Election
- 1999 Presidential Election
- 2005 Presidential ElectionSingapore presidential election, 2005The Singapore presidential election of 2005 was held to elect the President of Singapore. The incumbent S. R. Nathan's first term was to end on August 31, 2005...