Elections explained for kids as Singapore goes to the polls (2025)

SINGAPORE – With Polling Day on May 3, it is a good opportunity for parents to discuss the general election with their children and explain its impact on Singapore.

Electoral boundaries decided

When a general election is due to be held, the Prime Minister looks to the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, and it swings into action.

The committee will study any changes in Singapore’s population and housing developments so that it can recommend how the electoral boundaries should be adjusted.

These boundaries refer to the way that Singapore will be divided into segments for the election. The review helps ensure that each segment, known as an electoral division, is accurately represented based on its population.

Each one will be represented by Members of Parliament (MPs) through Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) or Single Member Constituencies (SMCs).

SMCs are represented by just one MP. GRCs, which cover a larger area, are represented by a team of MPs. Each team must include at least one person from a minority community.

The release of the committee’s report is one of the clearest signs that an election is around the corner.

Parliament is dissolved

The President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, will dissolve Parliament. An election must take place within three months of Parliament being dissolved.

The President will then issue a Writ of Election, a legal document that kicks off the election process. It includes important details, such as the date of Nomination Day and the name of the returning officer (RO).

The RO is a civil servant appointed by the Prime Minister to oversee the impartial and smooth conduct of the election.

By law, Nomination Day must be held at least five days, or at most one month, after the date of the Writ.

For this election, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam dissolved Parliament on April 15.

Nomination Day

In 2025, Nomination Day was on April 23. This was when each political party revealed its final line-up of candidates.

On Nomination Day, individuals or teams aiming to stand for election had to turn up at designated centres to submit the proper documents and certificates. They had to do so at one of the nine nomination centres from 11am to noon.

Prospective candidates must be supported by a group of people including a proposer, a seconder and at least four assentors who live in the same constituency. Candidates must also pay an election deposit.

If only one candidate or team is eligible to run in a constituency, they are declared to have won automatically in a process known as a walkover.

Campaign season begins

Once the candidates are confirmed, campaigning begins.

During this period, the candidates will reach out to voters through appearances in public spaces and house visits, as well as through social media engagements.

Political parties may get airtime to share their messages through television and radio broadcasts. Banners and posters carrying candidates’ pictures and party symbols will be plastered everywhere as reminders to voters.

Some of the most exciting events to look out for are the rallies, which are usually held in the evenings in places such as stadiums or open fields. That is when candidates make speeches outlining their qualifications and values, as well as the issues they feel strongly about.

There are strict rules to ensure campaigns are fair. For example, there are limits on the number and size of banners, and all posters must be approved before they are displayed.

Cooling-off Day

The day before the actual voting takes place is known as Cooling-off Day. On this day, no campaigning is allowed. All candidates and parties must stop all forms of promotion, whether in person or online.

This gives voters time to reflect on the issues raised during the campaigning period, and to decide on their choice without feeling overwhelmed.

The cooling-off period is a fairly recent development, as it was implemented for the first time at the 2011 election.

Polling Day

Polling Day is a public holiday in Singapore. It falls on May 3. Registered voters can head to polling stations – which are usually located in schools – to cast their votes from 8am. The polls close at 8pm.

At the polling stations, they will go into a voting booth alone and cast their vote using a ballot paper and a specially designed “X” stamp. They may also use their own pens.

All votes are secret. Once voting ends, the ballot boxes are sealed and transported to counting centres. There, the votes are tallied.

A sample count may be released earlier in the night to give the public a general idea of how the vote in an area went.

All final results will be announced by the RO, usually after midnight. By morning, the MPs will have been decided.

Election FAQ

What is an election?

An election is when voters choose who they want to represent them in government. In Singapore, this happens through general elections that are held at least once every five years.

What does an MP do?

An MP represents the people in his or her constituency and speaks up for them in Parliament.

MPs help make decisions about the country, suggest laws and work with government agencies to improve local services. They also hold regular sessions to hear and help with residents’ concerns.

Can anyone be an MP?

Not everyone is eligible. A person must:

• Be a Singapore citizen;
• Be at least 21 years old;
• Be on the electoral register;
• Be able to speak, read and write in at least one official language; and
• Have lived in Singapore for at least 10 years.

People who are bankrupt or have serious criminal records are not allowed to run.

What happens if you do not vote?

Voting is compulsory in Singapore. Those who do not vote will have their names removed from the Register of Electors.

Before they can vote again in subsequent elections, they will have to apply to restore their names to the register.

Some acceptable reasons for not voting include being overseas for studies or vacation, or medical issues such as an illness. Those without an acceptable reason for not voting will need to pay a fee to restore their names.

Can you vote if you live overseas?

Yes, Singaporeans living overseas can vote, as long as they register in advance and meet certain qualifying criteria.

These voters can cast their votes either by post or at overseas polling stations located in several major cities, such as London, Dubai and Shanghai.

SOURCES: The Straits Times, Elections Department Singapore

• This was first published in Little Red Dot, a weekly student publication of The Straits Times.

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