General elections are due to be held in Singapore no later than 23 November 2025 to elect 97 members to the Parliament of Singapore across 33 constituencies. The elections will be the 19th in Singapore since the first general election in 1948 and the 14th since its independence in 1965.
For the first time since the 2001 general election, Lee Hsien Loong will not lead the governing People's Action Party (PAP), as Lawrence Wong succeeded him as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024 and as secretary-general of the PAP on 4 December that year. The PAP has won a supermajority of seats in every election since independence.
Background
The People's Action Party won a majority of seats in the 2020 general election in what was its toughest contest since independence, although it still won all but three electoral divisions (two GRCs and one SMC). It retained West Coast GRC in a fight against the Progress Singapore Party, with the narrowest margin of victory among all electoral divisions; its largest margin of victory was in neighbouring Jurong GRC. The Workers' Party won the new Sengkang GRC and retained Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC. Ng Chee Meng, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Secretary-General of the NTUC who had led the Sengkang PAP team, was considered the highest profile political casualty of the election.
Electoral system
Under Article 65(4) of the Singaporean Constitution, a parliamentary term lasts a maximum of five years from its first sitting before its automatic dissolution by law. However, the Prime Minister, with a vote of confidence from a majority of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), can advise the President for early dissolution at any time during the five-year term. A general election must be held within three months of dissolution.
Electoral Divisions (also referred to as seats in Parliament) are organised into Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). Each SMC returns one MP using the first past the post voting system, while each GRC returns four or five MPs by party block voting. At least one candidate in the GRC must be from the Malay, Indian or other minority communities. A group of candidates intending to contest an election in a GRC must all be members of the same political party, or a group of independent candidates. The voting age in Singapore is 21 years. Elections are conducted by the Elections Department (ELD), a department under the Prime Minister's Office.
The Returning Officer for this election is Han Kok Juan, the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). This will be his first election as Returning Officer, having taken over the role from Tan Meng Dui on 1 April 2024. Tan had served as Returning Officer in the previous general election.
Political parties
The table below lists political parties elected or nominated in Parliament after the 2020 parliamentary election:
Pre-election composition
Under Singapore's constitution, the opposition will be guaranteed a set number of parliamentary seats which may consist of elected members of parliament (MP) from the opposition team and unsuccessful candidates in this election from the best-performing losing opposition party or parties, collectively known as Non-constituency Member of Parliament. The latest revision of the constitution was set on 27 January 2016, with a 12-seat minimum. The opposition consist of 10 elected seats all by the Workers' Party, and the remaining two seats were from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP).
Election dates
On 8 March 2024, the Elections Department announced that 50,000 public servants had been appointed as election officials. After Lawrence Wong became Singapore's next prime minister in May 2024, the South China Morning Post speculated that elections could be held as early as September that year. Political observers noted that elections were typically held around the school breaks of March and September. Goh Chok Tong held his first general election in August 1991 ten months after he assumed office in November 1990; his successor Lee Hsien Loong held his first general election in May 2006 two years after he assumed office in August 2004. However, Eugene Tan, an associate professor at Singapore Management University, felt a September election would be "hasty" for Wong to establish his mandate, and that the election was more likely to be held after the announcement of the 2025 budget. Holding the elections in 2025 would coincide with the country's SG60 National Day celebrations.
Following Lee Hsien Loong's announcement in April 2024 that he would step down as prime minister in May, Channel NewsAsia (CNA) speculated that general elections could be held at the end of that year. However, Lee's successor, Lawrence Wong, said in November that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) had not yet been convened. Following the formation of the EBRC in January 2025, political observers interviewed by The Straits Times speculated that the election could be held as early as April or May, following the passage of the 2025 Budget. July was deemed unlikely because it would be right before the SG60 National Day celebrations.
Voter rolls
The ELD released a statement outlining that the Register of Electors will be refreshed in 2025, being closed for updating a few months ahead of the plausible election date. As such, for the 2025 election, a citizen must be aged 21 and above (born before 1 March 2004), as of 1 March 2025 to be able to vote. The latest certification for the Register of Electors was released on 21 July, announcing an electorate of 2,715,187. The voter rolls opened for public inspection from 15 to 28 February, and was updated on 24 March, further increasing the electorate to 2,758,095.
Other constitutional changes
Amendments were made by the Elections Department, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Digital Development and Information. It was announced that family members of candidates who are foreigners or Permanent Residents will not need written authorisation signed by a candidate (or their election agent) to participate in election activities, though direct involvement in politics, such as canvassing, would still be prohibited,, with this regulation extending to minors under the age of 16. On 31 May 2024, the ELD announced that the Returning Officer, appointed by the prime minister to ensure fair and orderly elections, would have the authority to instruct individuals and social media platforms to remove online election advertisements that violate election regulations.
In a statement from the Elections Department Singapore on 15 October 2024, special arrangements at nursing homes, first implemented in the 2023 presidential election, would be discontinued due to logistical constraints and mixed reception. The ELD also sets a spending limit for electoral campaigns, hitherto set at S$4 per elector. However, on 27 March 2025, ELD raised the spending cap to S$5 per elector per constituency to account for inflation from when the S$4 cap was set in 2015.
Electoral boundaries changes
The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), which reviews and updates the Singapore's electoral map before the elections, was convened on 22 January 2025. The EBRC released their report on 11 March, which called for the creation of 18 GRCs and 15 SMCs. The number of MPs in the next parliament was increased to 97 elected seats. These changes were to account for the uneven distribution of growth in the number of electors across the existing electoral divisions, with most notable changes in the eastern and western ends of Singapore.
The report introduced six new SMCs: Jurong Central, Sembawang West, Bukit Gombak, Jalan Kayu, Queenstown, and Tampines Changkat. In turn, five current SMCs: Bukit Batok, Hong Kah North, MacPherson, Punggol West, and Yuhua were absorbed into neighbouring GRCs. The boundaries of only four existing SMCs, namely Bukit Panjang, Hougang, Marymount, and Pioneer, remained unchanged.
Many GRCs in the east and west of Singapore were reorganised. Jurong GRC was split into the newly-established Jurong East–Bukit Batok and West Coast–Jurong West GRCs. West Coast GRC was renamed to West Coast–Jurong West GRC. In the east, Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC was split into Pasir Ris–Changi and Punggol GRCs. Marine Parade GRC was also renamed into Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC as it absorbed MacPherson, and parts of Potong Pasir and Mountbatten. Bishan–Toa Payoh, Jalan Besar, Marsiling–Yew Tee, Nee Soon, and Sengkang GRCs remained unchanged.
The boundary changes were accepted by the Singapore government. While the PSP was "heartened that the EBRC has somewhat disclosed more of the reasoning behind its decisions, contrary to its previous report in 2020", the party felt that "the EBRC could have accounted for population shifts without making drastic changes to existing major electoral boundaries". The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) expressed "disappointment with the disappearance of Yuhua and Bukit Batok SMCs" – the electoral districts where the SDP plans to contest – and claimed the process of redrawing boundaries "lacked transparency". Similarly, on 25 March, WP Singh cited the change was "one of the most radical redrawing(s)" in one of his Facebook posts, and that an opaque institution could become diversive and changes to political system can be greatly improved.
Pre-election activities
Vacated seats
Six seats were vacated during the parliament term.
List of vacated seats
People's Action Party
Leadership succession
In November 2018, the governing People's Action Party (PAP) appointed Heng Swee Keat as the party's first assistant secretary-general. The Straits Times speculated that with Heng's appointment, he would succeed Lee Hsien Loong as the next prime minister. Heng remained in the PAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) in the 2020 party elections, in which Lawrence Wong was first elected into the CEC. However, in April 2021, Heng stepped down as leader of the PAP's fourth-generation (4G) team, citing his old age and health concerns. Analysts from The Straits Times suggested that Heng's withdrawal might be due to the PAP's weaker performance in the previous general election, where it secured only 61.24% of the popular vote. This outcome could signal a lack of voter confidence in his leadership. On the other hand, CNA analysts said Heng still held support from the 4G team following the elections and suggested Heng's decision might be "personal".
In a party caucus on 14 April 2022, finance minister Lawrence Wong was selected as the leader of the 4G team, following consultations with other ministers of the 4G team. On 13 June that year, Wong was appointed deputy prime minister following a cabinet reshuffle. Wong also assumed responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister’s Office. On 5 November 2023, Lee said he would hand over party leadership to Wong in 2024 before the party's 70th anniversary. On 15 April 2024, Lee announced Wong would succeed him as prime minister on 15 May. In Wong's new cabinet, Gan Kim Yong was promoted as deputy prime minister and Lee was appointed as senior minister; Wong only planned major changes to the cabinet after the next election. On 24 November, at the PAP's biennial conference celebrating the party's 70th anniversary, Lee stepped down as secretary general, although he remained in CEC. Gan also stepped down from the CEC, while Chee Hong Tat was co-opted into CEC for the first time. On 4 December 2024, Wong was elected as the PAP Secretary-General.
At the party's Women's Wing conference on 1 September 2024, Wong pledged to field more women candidates in the upcoming election. Candidates are progressively announced before the parliament term expires, which include the successors for the three (out of four) vacated seats, three new members in the opposition-held constituencies, and at least one candidate in a potential swing constituency.
On 7 July 2023, Tharman Shanmugaratnam resigned from all his positions in the government and as a member of the PAP to run for the 2023 presidential election, in which he won.
Controversies
On 12 July 2023, S. Iswaran was summoned to assist in an unspecified corruption investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Upon being briefed on the investigation by the CPIB, Prime Minister Lee instructed Iswaran to go on a leave of absence with immediate effect until investigations ended, and subsequently suspending his duties as an MP; Chee Hong Tat was appointed as Acting Minister for Transport. On 15 July 2023, it was revealed that Iswaran had been arrested pursuant to the investigation and was released on bail on 11 July 2023. The investigation had also expanded to include billionaire businessman Ong Beng Seng, who was arrested at the same time.
On 17 July 2023, Cheng Li Hui and Tan Chuan-Jin, the speaker for Singapore's parliament, resigned from Parliament and the PAP due to "propriety and personal conduct", for having an extramarital affair between themselves, with Tan being already married and with a family. Prime Minister Lee, in response to their resignation letters, said in a statement that their resignations were "necessary" to "maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years." On 2 August 2023, Seah Kian Peng succeeded Tan as Speaker of Parliament.
CPIB's investigations on Iswaran were concluded on 9 January 2024 and was handed over to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) for prosecution, according to a parliamentary reply given by Minister-in-charge of Public Service Chan Chun Sing. A week later, Iswaran resigned from the Cabinet and as the MP of West Coast GRC and member of the People's Action Party (PAP), following the charges against him by the AGC. In a follow-up letter the next day, he pledged to return the salary that he had received since the beginning of the CPIB investigation in July 2023 back to the government. On 18 January 2024, Iswaran was charged in the State Courts with 27 offences, including charges of corruption and obstruction of justice, becoming the first cabinet minister since Teh Cheang Wan in 1986 to be charged for corruption; the charges against Iswaran, who pleaded not guilty, thus attracted several international news outlets to report on the case. Consequently, Chee succeeded Iswaran as Minister for Transport, while Grace Fu succeeded him as Minister-in-charge for Trade Relations. Iswaran eventually pleaded guilty to five charges (out of the 35 known so far) on 24 September and was sentenced to a 12-month jail term on 3 October.
Workers' Party
Leadership succession
After the 2020 general election, the Workers' Party (WP) elected the four newly elected MPs in Sengkang GRC into the Central Executive Committee (CEC). Secretary-general Pritam Singh and Chairperson Sylvia Lim were re-elected to their posts unopposed. The government also officially appointed Singh as Singapore's first recognized Leader of the Opposition, citing the government's clear mandate and promoting alternate voices. Former Hougang SMC MP Png Eng Huat stepped down from the CEC in 2022. As of the most recent CEC change on 30 June 2024, former secretary-general Low Thia Khiang remains listed as a party's CEC member, as did Singh and Lim; among the new members were Ang Boon Yaw, Nathaniel Koh, and Tan Kong Soon. Lee Li Lian, former MP of the defunct Punggol East SMC, was reinstated into the CEC on 30 June 2024 after a three-year absence; she was working as a town councillor to Sengkang Town Council at the time of the announcement.
Observers predicted that the party may contest an estimated 30 seats, mostly in the eastern areas of Singapore, including the possibility of contesting Pasir Ris-Punggol and Tampines GRCs (both of which had divisions previously part of the defunct Cheng San and Eunos GRCs where the party were narrowly defeated in the 1990s), and in the central region, such as Jalan Besar GRC which the party last contested in 2015.
Former secretary-general Low, who stood down in the previous election following an injury, was initially adamant that he would continue to be involved in politics, though he felt that it would be a "back step" to nominate himself for candidacy. On 7 December 2024, Low confirmed his political retirement via Instagram, quashing further speculation on whether he would make a comeback. On November 18, WP engaged several commercial parties to help in candidate screening and personality reviews for the upcoming election in efforts to best represent Singapore.
Controversies
The trial for Aljunied-Hougang and Sengkang Town Councils (AHTC and STC respectively) against the leaders of the WP which started in 2012, who were alleged to have breached their duties as town councillors, ended with a successful appeal in July 2024 in favour to WP; while the High Court ruled that the WP MPs and town councillors, as well as FMSS’ owners, have breached their duties, the Court of Appeal had overturned the initial rulings, awarding WP the costs while both Town Council claims for damages and costs were dropped.
In the last review of the town councils on 27 June 2024, both Aljunied-Hougang and Sengkang Town Councils had outperformed better (along with 15 other town councils) in its management areas over the years.
On 30 November 2021, Raeesah Khan admitted to making unsubstantiated allegations in Parliament on three occasions. Upon interviewed by the Parliament's Committee of Privileges on Ms. Raeesah Khan, Parliament referred Party Leaders Pritam Singh and Faisal Manap to the public prosecutor for potentially lying to mislead Parliament. Manap has since been advised by the police "to familiarise himself with the conduct expected of Members of Parliament". Singh has since been charged for lying to Parliament by the public prosecutor. The party had also expelled a former CEC and NCMP Daniel Goh in June 2023 over his Facebook posts questioning Khan's resignation and criticising the party leadership for "allowing the transgression to persist".
On 8 November 2024, Singh's trial concluded and was eventually pleaded guilty for two counts for falsified parliamentary committee under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act; his verdict was determined on a court hearing on 17 February 2025, in which he was given a maximum S$7,000 fine for both counts and has since lodged an appeal; however, he was not issued an election ban as these sentences are separately counted.
On 19 July 2023, a viral video showing an extramarital affair between Leon Perera and president of the party's youth wing, Nicole Seah, surfaced online. Both members subsequently resigned from the party afterwards. While Perera was seen working with the Progress Singapore Party sometime in January 2025, he had since resided in New York City, implying that he would likely not contest in the election; the PSP subsequently also confirmed that Perera did not join the party.
Progress Singapore Party
After the 2020 general election, Assistant Secretary-General Leong Mun Wai and Vice-Chairwoman Hazel Poa were appointed Non-Constituency Members of Parliament by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. A policy research team, youth, and women wings were also created as part of the reorganisation of the party. As of 2024, PSP's founder Tan Cheng Bock revealed he had not retired from politics, and continued his walkabout and rallying at West Coast GRC, the ward where it was their best-performing constituency for the party; however, neither Tan nor the team revealed further details at the time until the election date draws close. Certain observers predicted that an unspecified number of PSP candidates will contest in most of western Singapore.
Tan Cheng Bock relinquished his secretary-general role on 3 April 2021 to Francis Yuen, which quashed a speculation of a rift within the party that Tan had been pressured by party cadres to step down in order to make way for a younger candidate; Yuen left the role on 26 March 2023 citing work commitments. Leong had held the role from 4 April until 20 February 2024, following complications over the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) for a post about financial aid to an elderly couple living at West Coast, leading to his resignation from the post. Leong was then succeeded by Poa afterwards on 23 February 2024,.
On 13 May 2024, Assistant Secretary-General Ang Yong Guan, who was also a medical practitioner in his namesake Ang Yong Guan Psychiatry, was found guilty of three counts of professional misconduct for departing from guidelines in prescribing various medications to a patient, leading to the patient's death in 2012. The PSP did not take any immediate disciplinary action on Ang, but respected the court's decision. It was later confirmed on 5 February 2025 that Ang would not stand in the election nor PSP's next CEC, due to held on 20 March 2025.
In November 2024, Tan announced he was ready to contest in the next general election and said the party will "proactively facilitate" the forming of an alliance among the opposition parties. On 8 February 2025, Tan reaffirmed his party's position on multi-racialism in light of accusations against by Leong made by minister K. Shanmugam during a parliament session, following the publishing of Leong's "Multi-racialism, National issues and Mature politics" Facebook post three days prior. On 23 February, Tan announced his intention to contest West Coast GRC in the upcoming election. Tan also added that it was possible for the electoral boundaries of West Coast GRC to be redrawn, describing the constituency as being "too big".
The next central executive committee was held on 20 March, in which six new members replaced into the CEC, while Tan, Poa and Leung were re-elected into it, the key positions of Secretary-general and Chairman were not disclosed at the time. The party also confirms their intention to challenge Chua Chu Kang GRC, West Coast-Jurong West GRC, and several constituencies, but did not disclose the slate on who they were to stand for the election. On 26 March, Leong was re-instated in the party's Secretary-general post, marking his return to the post in over a year.
Analysts such as Felix Tan reported that the re-handover of the Secretary-General post would not shake the party's voter base and that the CEC are collectively "core individuals that members trust and have confidence in", and that current issues (such as Leong's handover to Poa due to POFMA) would not undermine the party's branding itself. NUS Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian however cited that the party's undergoing four leadership changes in-between the two elections flagged questions pertaining to the party's stability, but praised on the determination on its leadership.
Other opposition parties
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) began its walkabouts in August 2023, mainly in constituencies where it had contested in the previous election. SDP had also previously announced its intention to contest Sembawang GRC for the first time since the 2011 election. On 11 November 2023, the party relocated their headquarters to WGECA Tower, bringing it closer to constituencies where it has been active, including Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Holland–Bukit Timah, Marsiling–Yew Tee, and Yuhua. On 20 February 2025, the SDP announced that secretary-general Chee Soon Juan would contest in Bukit Batok SMC for the third time to "keep its primary focus on the constituencies" where the party maintains a presence. However, following the redistricting of Bukit Batok SMC into the new Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC, Chee announced on 23 March 2025 that he would contest in the newly-created Sembawang West SMC instead, while chairman Paul Tambyah would contest in Bukit Panjang SMC.
Singapore Democratic Alliance
The SDA, consisting of the Singapore Justice Party and the Singapore Malay National Organisation, planned to contest in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC as they did so since 2006. SDA chief Desmond Lim also stated that the alliance is working to amend its constitution to allow associate members to join under the SDA banner, including independent candidates. Following the redrawing of electoral boundaries, the SDA announced its plans to contest in Pasir Ris–Changi GRC, and is open to discussions with WP regarding the boundary changes for Punggol GRC. Despite opposition parties outlining their intentions, Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore (NUS), viewed it as a strategic move to coordinate among themselves, given that none have the manpower to contest all seats. Meanwhile, Kasthuri Prameswaren, an associate faculty member at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, emphasized the importance of opposition parties forming blocs and following through with their plans rather than merely "paying lip service".
Reform Party
In August 2020, Reform Party (RP) secretary general Kenneth Jeyaretnam removed chairman Andy Zhu and treasurer Noraini Yunus from the party's CEC. The party accused Zhu and Yunus of improper handling of the party's bank account, and the CEC unanimously agreed to their removal. Zhu claimed the allegations were "baseless" and criticised Jeyaretnam's "undemocratic stance". He was succeeded by Charles Yeo. In January 2021, Zhu formed a splinter party, Singapore United Party (SUP), with several former members of RP. On 15 January 2022, Yeo resigned as chairman following police investigations against him for alleged criminal breach of trust and forgery. Yeo claimed the charges were "politically motivated", which the police denied. Yasmine Valentina became the acting RP chairman. Separately, Yeo was also charged under the Protection from Harassment Act for harassing a police officer and wounding the religious feelings of Christians. While Yeo posted bail in July 2022 and was allowed to leave Singapore for a hearing in Vietnam, he instead sought political asylum in the United Kingdom. Singapore sent an extradition request to the UK in October 2023, and Yeo was arrested by UK authorities on 4 November 2024.
Coalitions
In June 2023, Peoples Voice (PV) chief Lim Tean founded the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), bringing together RP, the People's Power Party (PPP), and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), making it the first creation of a political alliance since the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) during the 2001 election. The PAR aimed to contest in all the seats which the respective parties contested in the previous election. However, in February 2025, the PPP withdrew from PAR, citing "irreconcilable strategic differences". Lim said the PPP insisted on contesting in Tampines GRC, a move opposed by the other coalition members. The other parties also objected to PPP's position to halt COVID-19 vaccinations in the country. Despite the departure, PPP's secretary general Goh Meng Seng stated that the party is open to future collaboration with PAR. In the same month, the PAR announced its plans to contest in several constituencies, including Jalan Besar, Tanjong Pagar, Nee Soon, Potong Pasir, Mountbatten, Radin Mas, Yio Chu Kang, and Kebun Baru, with combined teams fielded for the GRCs.
Lim Tean, who was convicted in July 2024 for practicing law without a valid certificate, was sentenced to six weeks in jail and fined S$1,000 (US$745) on 17 February. Like Singh, Lim is still eligible for elections and intends to appeal his conviction and sentence. Following the redrawing of electoral boundaries, Lim declared that the PAR is ready to contest in 10 constituencies.
In October 2023, the Singapore People's Party (SPP), National Solidarity Party (NSP), Red Dot United (RDU), and Singapore United Party (SUP) announced a "non-formal partnership", named the Coalition. The partnership was aimed at preventing three-cornered contests, developing a joint manifesto, and exploring candidate-sharing arrangements during elections. While the Coalition has no dominant party or leader, RDU would serve as the secretariat for administrative matters. The parties of the Coalition aimed to contest in Tampines, Sembawang, Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Kebun Baru, Bishan–Toa Payoh, Potong Pasir, Jurong, and Nee Soon. RDU volunteers also visited Tanjong Pagar, Yuhua, Kebun Bahru, and Radin Mas. Following the changes in electoral boundaries, RDU announced its plans to contest in Jurong East–Bukit Batok, Nee Soon, and Tanjong Pagar GRCs, and the SMCs of Jurong Central, Jalan Kayu, and Radin Mas. NSP announced its plans to contest in Sembawang West and Tampines Changkat, and in the GRCs of Jalan Besar, Marine Parade–Braddell Heights, Marsiling–Yew Tee, Sembawang and Tampines. On 12 April, RDU announced their departure from the Coalition, citing concerns about other member parties' involvement in multi-cornered contests.
Timeline
Key events
Campaign
Social media
Before the election campaign, The Straits Times reported in 2024 that politicians and political parties were prioritising their social media presence, with Teo Kay Key predicting that social media would play a significant role in the upcoming general election campaign. According to Jaipragas, the political climate in Singapore remains "comparatively healthy", but noted increasing polarisation on social media.
The PAP has engaged social media influencers, with its MPs having actively used social media for outreach. According to a March 2025 CNA Today article, the PAP stated that it avoids a "one-size-fits-all" approach to social media. The party noted that its MPs address a range of issues important to them and their residents, utilising social media in ways that best suit their personalities. The WP and other opposition parties have been regularly updating their accounts with walkabout reports and other activities, and believe social media is essential "for leveling the playing field" and directly engaging with Singaporeans. Ravi Philemon of RDU said a social media presence is essential to compete against established parties with large followings. However, many had to operate with limited resources and depend on volunteers to manage their social media accounts.
While social media engagement is seen as crucial for voter outreach, Teo believed that the electorate is unlikely to rely solely on social media in their voting choices. The WP views social media as a complement rather than a substitute for its longstanding commitment to on-the-ground engagement. On the other hand, SDP vice-chairman Bryan Lim stated that social media has been effective in addressing "some of the weaknesses of ground work," such as allowing him to connect with constituents he may not have the opportunity to engage with in depth.
Podcasts
Politicians, including prime minister Lawrence Wong, health minister Ong Ye Kung, and NCMP Hazel Poa, have also appeared on local podcasts, which Wong Yang views as part of their communication and campaign strategy. Producers and hosts of four Singaporean podcasts told CNA Today that political interest in appearing on their platforms has surged since 2020, especially ahead of this year's election. Experts interviewed by The Straits Times suggested that the casual format allows politicians to connect with voters beyond traditional media, particularly younger people and older millennials. Podcasts also allow guest speakers to share personal anecdotes with in-depth discussions on policy matters. Kenneth Paul Tan of Hong Kong Baptist University noted that podcasts in Singapore serve both as hegemonic reinforcement and contestation. While they help the PAP humanise its leaders and foster relatability, it also allows the opposition to bypass mainstream media, challenge the PAP, and appeal to disillusioned Singaporeans especially in Singapore's tightly controlled media landscape.
Dr Natalie Pang, head of NUS communications and new media department, added that such podcasts could provide a platform for individuals with differing political views to engage in candid exchange with one another – an important factor amid rising political polarisation worldwide. Pang also highlighted that some podcast hosts have been willing to challenge politicians on their shows, often voicing public concerns and asking pressing questions. Nevertheless, commentators on CNA Today noted that viral online content does not necessarily translate into electoral success, as voters have mixed opinions on its influence. Moreover, social media’s reach is more confined to specific demographics, particularly younger voters.
Political issues
A January 2025 study by Blackbox Research’s sentiment tracker, SensingSG, found that the cost of living remained the primary concern for Singaporeans. Eligible voters also cited employment and housing as key issues, while higher-income groups expressed concerns about civil rights and democracy. Respondents in the survey indicated they prioritised the quality of governance at the constituency level rather than the national level, with nearly 90% of respondents expressing this view. Additionally, 88% of respondents emphasised the importance of candidate quality in their constituency, while 87.8% highlighted service delivery and infrastructure as key factors. Unlike in other countries, Blackbox anticipated that the upcoming general election would not be driven by personality-based politics.
Bhavan Jaipragas of The Straits Times beyond everyday concerns like public housing and living costs, opposition parties should also address geopolitical matters as these can significantly influence domestic issues, particulary with the introduction of tariffs by the second Trump administration. He also called for voters not to take Singapore's relevance and sovereignty for granted as he cited a 2009 Lee Kuan Yew speech. Analysts on CNA said the PAP's traditional "flight to safety" strategy during times of crisis – appealing to voters' to stick with familiar leadership – may not be as effective during the upcoming election amid growing voter scepticism and a more diverse electorate. Opposition leaders have called for unity through parliamentary diversity, pushing back on what they see as government fearmongering. Analysts expect that building trust, demonstrating sincerity, and clearly communicating plans to address both global developments and domestic issues are essential in shaping electoral outcomes.
Ahead of the upcoming election, CNA and other Mediacorp media outlets identified East Coast, Marine Parade, Sengkang, and West Coast GRCs as potential election "hotspots", with residents across these districts primarily concerned about the rising cost of living, employment and job security, and housing affordability. In East Coast, where PAP narrowly beat WP in 2020, ageing infrastructure and elderly support are major issues. Private estate owners also seek greater transparency on lease renewals. In Marine Parade, in addition to concerns regarding immigration, job competition, school placements, CNA speculated that Tan Chuan-Jin's marital affair could influence the constituency's electoral outcome as he was well-regarded among residents there. In WP-held Sengkang, national issues take priority over constituency-level issues like estate cleanliness. Meanwhile, West Coast, where PAP won by just 3.36% in 2020, estate management and transport are key concerns. CNA believes the prosecution of S. Iswaran and the presence of PSP's founding chairman Tan Cheng Bock, a former PAP MP, could determine the next election outcome.
In a subsequent CNA survey after the redrawing of electoral boundaries, most residents in redrawn constituencies like East Coast, Marine Parade–Braddell Heights, and West Coast–Jurong West were largely indifferent to the changes. However, residents in East Coast and Marine Parade–Braddell Heights had questioned the rationale, and political analysts noted the opposition could face more challenges. Analysts on The Straits Times, such as Dr Mustafa Izzuddin and Felix Tan, believe that the boundary changes have strengthened support for the PAP in the newly formed GRCs in the west. Analysts also suggested that East Coast could be highly competitive due to the inclusion of Joo Chiat's educated, middle-class voters, who might prioritise political pluralism and checks on parliamentary power. Political observer Felix Tan noted that younger voters in the newly formed Punggol GRC could potentially influence voting trends, and The Straits Times expected a fierce PAP–WP fight in Punggol. However, Teo Kay Key believed that many voters would focus more on national issues, party performance, and candidate quality than constituency-specific changes.
Manifesto
Opinion polls
Under Section 78C of the Parliamentary Elections Act, it is illegal to publish the results of any election survey during the campaign period.
See also
- Elections in Singapore
Notes
References
External links
- Straits Times coverage of GE2025
- CNA coverage of GE2025
