GE2025: Political broadcasts set for April 25 and May 1; ELD issues other campaigning guidelines (2025)

SINGAPORE –Two party political broadcasts (PPBs) for the upcoming general election will be aired on April 25 and May 1, the Elections Department (ELD) said.

Only political parties that field at least six candidates under a recognised party symbol are eligible for the PPBs, ELD said in a release on April 21 detailing campaign guidelines for the period starting on Nomination Day on April 23 to the end of polling on May 3.

Independents and political parties fielding fewer than six candidates are not eligible for the PPBs.

The broadcasts will give political parties free broadcast airtime to deliver their campaign messages during the campaign period on six free-to-air TV channels and 13 radio stations. Political parties can choose to deliver their campaign messages in English, Mandarin, Malay and/or Tamil.

The PPBs must comply with all applicable codes of practice for TV and radio, including “ensuring that the content of the (broadcasts) presents references to race and religion accurately and in a dignified manner”, ELD said.

The content of the political broadcasts should also not “be slanted by exclusion of facts or by misleading emphasis, and should not be defamatory or criminal in nature”, ELD added.

In addition to the dates of the two PPBs, the ELD released more campaigning guidelines that will apply from Nomination Day to the close of Polling Day:

Walkabouts and house visits

Candidates can conduct walkabouts and house visits without a permit from the police if:

• The candidate, election agent or a person authorised by the candidate to conduct election activity is present during the walkabout or house visit;
• The activities are held within the campaign period and between 7am and 10.30pm;
• The walkabouts and house visits do not result in the obstruction of any public road or public place, public disorder, damage to property, or noise that causes disruption to residents or activities in the vicinity.

The display of any visible representation that contains violent, lewd or obscene materials, or the erection or use of any stage, is not allowed.

Public display of traditional election advertising

Banners, flags and posters that are publicly displayed during the campaign period must comply with the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 and Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations 2024.

These forms of non-online election advertising must also comply with other laws of the land and not be seditious in nature and cannot contain “materials that may cause alarm and distress”, ELD said.

Candidates may campaign by putting up banners, flags and posters as long as they comply with display regulations stated in the Returning Officer’s permit. These rules include controls on the quantity and size of these forms of non-online election advertising, as well as the location, manner and period of display.

The Returning Officer has authorised Aetos Security Management to enforce display rules during the election.

Political parties will have three hours to remove any unauthorised or non-compliant materials once notified. If they fail to do so, Aetos may be directed to step in, and candidates must bear the removal costs and declare them as part of their election expenses.

Online campaigning

Candidates can campaign online through social media, websites, podcasts and e-mails, according to the rules for Online Election Advertising (OEA) in the Parliamentary Elections Act and Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations.

Only political parties, candidates and election agents can publish paid online election ads. Others can publish these advertisements only if they receive written authorisation from a candidate or election agent.

Singapore citizens may post unpaid ads on their own, except from the start of Cooling-off Day on May 2 until the end of polling on Polling Day, on May 3.

A new law under the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) Act, which will be in place for the first time this general election, bans digitally generated or manipulated content that misrepresents a prospective candidate’s speech or actions.

This includes content created using generative artificial intelligence or other techniques such as Photoshop, dubbing or adding new audio over existing footage, and splicing, cutting and joining clips to change their meaning.

From the end of nomination proceedings on Nomination Day, successfully nominated candidates will be protected from false depictions under the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act.

“This rule is intended to uphold the truthfulness of candidate representation and protect electoral integrity,” ELD said.

Meanwhile, all online advertisements, whether paid or unpaid, have to display the names of all the people who played an active role in publishing them, said ELD. This includes those responsible for publishing, approving, and directing the publishing of the ad.

Paid advertisements have to include a message or statement to indicate that they have been sponsored or paid for, as well as the names of people who paid for them.

Singapore citizens who are not candidates or election agents do not have to abide by these “published-by” rules if they post unpaid OEA in their individual capacity and not at the direction of others, ELD added.

Use of films in campaigning

The use of films in campaigning is subject to the Films Act 1981, which bans the importation, making, reproduction, distribution or exhibition of party political films.

“The prohibition applies to all persons and is meant to keep politics objective and rational,” ELD said.

But there are some exceptions to the rule. Films that are “factual and objective” and that “do not present a distorted picture of facts” are allowed, ELD said.

Publication of election surveys and exit polls

The publication of results of election surveys, exit polls or content purporting to be the results of an election survey are not allowed from the issuance of the Writ of Election until the close of polling on Polling Day.

During this period, the public should not create surveys or polls on social media platforms, online forums, messaging services or websites where the results can be viewed.

Cooling-off period

All campaigning, including traditional and online election advertisements, must stop during the cooling-off period. This starts on the eve of Polling Day, May 2, which is also known as Cooling-off Day, and ends when the polls close on Polling Day. While the publishing or republishing of any election-related content is not allowed, material already in the public domain can stay.

Examples of republishing include sharing, resharing, reposting or boosting existing online advertisements.

Election meetings (rallies or gatherings at assembly centres)

To hold an election meeting, which includes rallies, candidates must hold a permit from the Police Elections Permit Office, ELD said.

Candidates must apply online or in person, and applications can be submitted only after the close of nomination proceedings on April 23. The earliest day an election meeting can be held is a day after Nomination Day, and applications must be submitted by 4pm on Nomination Day.

Applications for election meetings to be held on subsequent campaigning days must be submitted by 2.30pm at least a day before the planned meeting, ELD said.

“Candidates have a responsibility to get their supporters to respect the law, and to calm the supporters down should the situation show risk of degenerating into public disorder and to pose safety concerns, at election meetings,” ELD said.

Perambulating vehicles

Candidates can use vehicles to broadcast pre-recorded election messages during the campaign period, though they must apply for a police permit to do so.

Candidates are not allowed to give live speeches from the vehicles or provide public entertainment during the broadcast. If the vehicles used have open decks, no one is allowed on the open deck.

Candidates can apply for a perambulating vehicle permit online via the Singapore Police Force website.

Perambulating vehicles can be used from the day after Nomination Day, and the deadline for applications is 4pm on Nomination Day.

Applications for the use of perambulating vehicles on all other campaigning days must be submitted at least a day in advance, by 2.30pm.

The use of perambulating vehicles is allowed during the period from the day after Nomination Day until the eve of Cooling-off Day.

No foreign interference, negative campaigning and prohibited persons

Only Singapore citizens can take part in elections and campaigning.

Those who are below 16 years of age or those against whom an order of supervision has been made under Section 30(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act 1955 are not allowed to take part in any election activity.

ELD also urges candidates, their election agents and their authorised representatives to campaign “in a responsible and dignified manner that befits the seriousness of the election process”. This means steering away from negative campaigning based on hate and denigration of opposing candidates.

They should also not make false statements – such as unfounded allegations of corruption or criminal offences – or statements that may cause racial or religious tensions or affect social cohesion.

Campaigning by political parties and civic organisations on behalf of a candidate

By law, any person who conducts activities in support of a candidate must be individually authorised in writing by the candidate or his election agent.

And before civic, business or professional bodies take part in any political activity, or allow their funds or premises to be used for political purposes, they should ensure that their Constitutions allow them to do so. They should also make sure that in doing so, they do not flout any laws that they are subject to, ELD said.

Such political activities include endorsing candidates and publishing advertisements or issuing press statements expressing support for a candidate.

• Vanessa Paige Chelvan is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes about all things transport and pens the occasional commentary.

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