On 15 April 2024, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam dissolved Parliament, officially marking the commencement of the 14th General Election in Singapore. This historic event paves the way for the first election under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office in May 2023.
Nomination Day and Polling Details
A Writ of Election is expected to be issued soon, which will detail key dates including Nomination Day, set for 23 April 2024. Under Singaporean election laws, this day must fall within the stipulated timeframe of five days to one month following the dissolution.
- 97 parliamentary seats are open for election
- 18 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and 15 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) will be contested
- The campaign period will kick off after Nomination Day and end the day before Polling Day
Political Landscape
This election comes at a critical time, with growing concerns among voters about the cost of living and job security. According to a survey conducted in January 2024, these issues are taking centre stage as Singaporeans prepare to cast their votes.
In the previous general election in 2020, two opposition parties—Workers’ Party (WP) and Progress Singapore Party (PSP)—gained ground in Parliament, further intensifying the competition. With candidates from 11 parties, including two opposition alliances, the contest is gearing up to be highly competitive.
Historic Context
The 14th Parliament, which began its term on 24 August 2020, became the second longest in Singapore’s history and concluded with a significant number of vacant seats—six MPs left for various reasons before the election call. The upcoming election will also see a return to physical campaigning practices after the pandemic, something that hasn’t been seen in a decade.
As Singaporeans prepare for this pivotal election, all eyes will be on how the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) will defend its seats in such a charged atmosphere.