In a significant advance toward the next general election, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has convened the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), as announced by the Elections Department (ELD) on 22 January 2024. This committee will assess and reshape Singapore’s electoral map, ensuring it reflects recent population shifts and housing developments.
Mandate of the EBRC
The EBRC is tasked with recommending the number and boundaries of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and Single Member Constituencies (SMCs). According to the ELD, the committee has been directed to maintain the average size of GRCs, the distribution of MPs from SMCs, and the ratio of electors to MPs at similar levels as seen in the last general election.
Timeline for the Electoral Process
The formation of the EBRC sets in motion a series of events leading to the polls:
- EBRC Report Release: The committee will compile its findings and suggest changes to the electoral map. Past reviews have taken anywhere from two to seven months.
- Parliament Dissolution: Following the report, the President will dissolve Parliament under Prime Minister Wong’s advice, prompting the election timeline.
- Writ of Election: Issued soon after dissolution, signalling the start of official campaigning.
- Nomination Day: This allows parties to confirm their candidates, setting the stage for campaign activities.
- Cooling-off Day: No campaigning is allowed the day before the election to help voters reflect.
- Polling Day: Voters will cast their ballots, with results rolled out following the process.
Previous EBRC Activity
This marks the first committee under Mr Wong’s leadership, with the last EBRC meeting held in August 2019 in preparation for the elections held in 2020. Notably, changes including reducing the size of GRCs and increasing SMCs were implemented during that review.
What’s Next?
Voter rolls will be accessible for public scrutiny starting February 2024, with updates required to be completed before 1 April 2024. By the next general election, which must occur by November 2025, over 2.7 million Singaporeans will be eligible to vote, according to recent updates.