As announced last week, the much-anticipated Singapore General Elections will be held on 3 May 2025. A total of 97 seats – an increase of 4 – will be contested across 18 Group representation constituencies (GRCs) (both 4-member and 5-member) and 15 Single member constituencies (SMCs). About 2.75 million Singaporeans are eligible to vote in GE2025.
Nomination Day is scheduled for on 23 April, with the campaigning period running from 23 April to 1 May. 2 May will serve as the Cooling-off day.
Campaigning for an election can be an expensive event as candidates do their utmost best to market themselves to voters. To ensure a level-playing field and to prevent “money politics”, the Elections Department (ELD) imposes a ceiling on how much candidates can incur in terms of election expenses.
Currently, this is capped at $5.00 per voter, an increase of $1 to account for inflation.
For example, in a SMC such as Potong Pasir with 30,897electors, the most any candidate can spend on the election would be $154,485.
In a GRC such as Tampines with 147,904electors and five candidates, the spending limit per candidate would be $147,904 ((147,904X $5)/5).
As of 1 Februray 2025, the number of electors in each election division is as follows:
There are 15 SMCs this round, one more than the previous GE2020.
| SMC Name | No. of Electors | Maximum amount each candidate can spend |
| Bukit Gombak | 26,364 | $131,820 |
| Bukit Panjang | 33,566 | $167,830 |
| Hougang | 29,433 | $147,165 |
| Jalan Kayu | 29,565 | $147,825 |
| Jurong Central | 29,620 | $148,100 |
| Kebun Baru | 22,223 | $111,115 |
| Marymount | 23,219 | $116,095 |
| Mountbatten | 22,754 | $113,770 |
| Pioneer | 25,166 | $125,830 |
| Potong Pasir | 30,897 | $154,485 |
| Queenstown | 28,857 | $144,285 |
| Radin Mas | 25,497 | $127,485 |
| Sembawang West | 24,153 | $120,765 |
| Tampines Changkat | 23,802 | $119,010 |
| Yio Chu Kang | 25,368 | $126,840 |
There are 18 GRCs this round compared to the 17 in GE2020.
| GRC Name | No. of Electors | No. of Seats | Maximum amount each candidate can spend |
| Aljunied | 144,032 | 5 | $144,032 |
| Ang Mo Kio | 161,235 | 5 | $161,235 |
| Bishan-Toa Payoh | 98,505 | 4 | $123,131 |
| Chua Chu Kang | 93,368 | 4 | $116,710 |
| East Coast | 150,691 | 5 | $150,691 |
| Holland-Bukit Timah | 122,891 | 4 | $153,613 |
| Jalan Besar | 106,102 | 4 | $132,627 |
| Jurong East-Bukit Batok | 142,510 | 5 | $142,510 |
| Marine Parade-Braddell Heights | 131,493 | 5 | $131,493 |
| Marsiling-Yew Tee | 119,352 | 4 | $149,190 |
| Nee Soon | 151,634 | 5 | $151,634 |
| Pasir Ris-Changi | 100,639 | 4 | $125,798 |
| Punggol | 123,557 | 4 | $154,446 |
| Sembawang | 133,919 | 5 | $133,919 |
| Sengkang | 126,641 | 4 | $158,301 |
| Tampines | 147,904 | 5 | $147,904 |
| Tanjong Pagar | 139,688 | 5 | $139,688 |
| West Coast-Jurong West | 158,581 | 5 | $158,581 |
From the table above, you can see that the maximum amount a candidate can spend contesting on the election range from $111,115 (Kebun Baru) to $167,830 (Bukit Panjang).
Do note it’s illegal to spend beyond the imposed limit.
According to the GE2025 handbook, in general, payments for election expenses can only be made by or through a candidate’s election agent. Even if a candidate is permitted to enter into a contract whereby election expenses are incurred, the candidate cannot pay those expenses unless he/she is his/her own election agent.
These restrictions have been imposed by law to prevent loopholes in the control over spending on election expenses. No person other than the election agent can make a payment, and the election agent cannot plead ignorance of what payments have been made by others.
Expenses can be broken down into the following categories. The election agent is responsible for ensuring the proper and accurate reports of each item that the candidate has spent on during the election campaigning.
- Remuneration of election agents, polling agents and counting agents
- Advertising and printing of promotional materials
- Transport
- Stationery, office supplies and postage
- Fax machines, telephone and other means of communication
- Furniture and equipment rental
- Office rental and utilities for election meeting, committee room
- Food, refreshments and accommodation
- Miscellaneous expenses
Election candidates typically get their funds from the political party they represent and/or from donations which they have raised. Do note that the Political Donations Act prevent foreigners from funding candidates and political associations.
Read Also: GE2025 Nomination Day: Key Highlights, Surprises & What Is Going On In Tampines?
