Before candidates can get on the ballot sheet and stand for General Elections (GE) in Singapore, they need to submit their nomination papers and certificates to the Returning Officer (or their representatives) at designated nomination centres between 11am and 12 noon, accompanied by their proposers, seconders, and at least four assentors.
Here’s is a summary of what happened earlier today during Nomination Day for GE2020.
#1 A First In GE History: Decentralised Nomination Process Due To COVID-19
In the past, all nominations will take place outside the Elections Department (ELD), with supporters of the various parties and candidates gathering to express their support.
This year, due to new guidelines issued by the Elections Department, as a result of COVID-19, nominations are taking place across 9 nomination centres, while supporters are prohibited from gathering at or around the vicinity of nomination centres.
The campaigning period will also be different, since physical rallies will be banned. Instead, candidates will need to rely on e-rallies, ‘live’ television broadcasts, as well as the usual walkabouts, distribution of campaign materials, and putting up campaign banners in order to reach out to voters.
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#2 Walkovers Or 3-Cornered Fights
Based on rules governing elections, if at the end of the nomination period, there is only one candidate (for SMCs) or one group of candidates (for GRCs) successfully nominated in a constituency, the Returning Officer will declare that person or group as being elected as Member(s) of Parliament of that constituency. This is more commonly known as a walkover.
The previous General Elections in 2015 marked the first time since independence that all seats were contested. For GE2020, all 93 seats will be contested, and there are no walkovers.
There are some 3-cornered fights, such as at Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, with the People’s Action Party going against the Singapore Democratic Alliance, and Peoples Voice.
In Pioneer SMC, People’s Action Party candidate Patrick Tay is up against Lim Cher Hong of the Progress Singapore Party and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah.
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#3 Largest Number Of Political Parties Contesting In Singapore
Other than the incumbent ruling People’s Action Party, a total of 10 political parties have fielded candidates to contest in GE2020, competing for a total of 93 seats in 14 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and 17 Group Representative Constituencies (GRCs).
They are:
– Workers’ Party
– Singapore Democratic Party
– National Solidarity Party
– Singapore People’s Party
– Singapore Democratic Alliance
– Reform Party
– People’s Power Party
– Peoples Voice
– Progress Singapore Party
– Red Dot United
There are also individuals who are running as independent candidates.
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#4 Who Is Contesting Where?
Nomination has officially closed at 12.30pm and candidates are now examining the nomination documents of their opponents and have the opportunity to raise objections.
Here is the list of confirmed candidates for each of the GRC and SMC constituencies.
Aljunied GRC
Workers’ Party: Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim, Gerald Giam, Leon Perera, Faisal Manap
People’s Action Party: Chua Eng Leong, Victor Lye, Shamsul Kamar, Chan Hui Yuh, Alex Yeo
Ang Mo Kio GRC
People’s Action Party: Lee Hsien Loong, Darryl David, Gan Thiam Poh, Ng Ling Ling, Nadia Samdin
Reform Party: Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Andy Zhu, Charles Yeo, Noraini Yunus, So Guan Soon
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
People’s Action Party: Ng Eng Hen, Chee Hong Tat, Saktiandi Supaat, Chong Kee Hiong
Singapore People’s Party: Steve Chia, Williamson Lee, Osman Sulaiman, Melvyn Chiu
Chua Chu Kang GRC
People’s Action Party: Gan Kim Yong, Low Yen Ling, Don Wee, Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim
Progress Singapore Party: Francis Yuen, Tan Meng Wah, Choo Shaun Ming, Abdul Rahmad Mohamad
East Coast GRC
People’s Action Party: Heng Swee Keat, Maliki Osman, Jessica Tan, Cheryl Chan, Tan Kiat How
Workers’ Party: Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim, Kenneth Foo, Terence Tan, Dylan Ng, Nicole Seah
Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
People’s Action Party: Vivian Balakrishnan, Sim Ann, Christopher de Souza, Edward Chia
Singapore Democratic Party: James Gomez, Min Cheong, Alfred Tan, Tan Jee Say
Jalan Besar GRC
People’s Action Party: Josephine Teo, Heng Chee How, Denise Phua, Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah
Peoples Voice: Lim Tean, Leong Sze Hian, Michael Fang, Azlan Sulaiman
Jurong GRC
People’s Action Party: Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Tan Wu Meng, Rahayu Mahzam, Shawn Huang, Xie Yao Quan
Red Dot United: Ravi Philemon, Liyana Dhamirah, Michelle Lee, Nicholas Tang, Alec Tok
Marine Parade GRC
People’s Action Party: Tan Chuan-Jin, Seah Kian Peng, Edwin Tong, Tan See Eng, Fahmi Aliman
Workers’ Party: Ron Tan, Yee Jenn Jong, Fadli Fawzi, Azhar Latip, Nathaniel Koh
Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC
People’s Action Party: Lawrence Wong, Zaqy Mohamad, Alex Yam, Hany Soh
Singapore Democratic Party: Bryan Lim, Damanhuri Abas, Benjamin Pwee, Khung Wai Yeen
Nee Soon GRC
People’s Action Party: K Shanmugam, Faishal Ibrahim, Louis Ng, Carrie Tan, Derrick Goh
Progress Singapore Party: Damien Tay, Taufik Supan, Kala Manickam, S Nallakaruppan, and Brad Bowyer
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
People’s Action Party: Teo Chee Hean, Janil Puthucheary, Desmond Tan, Yeo Wan Ling, Sharael Taha
Singapore Democratic Alliance: Desmond Lim, Harminder Pal Singh, Abu Mohamed, Kelvin Ong, Kuswadi Atnawi
Peoples Voice: Gilbert Goh, Mohamed Nassir Ismail, Jireh Lim, Prabu Ramachandran, Vigneswari Ramachandran
Sembawang GRC
People’s Action Party: Ong Ye Kung, Vikram Nair, Lim Wee Kiak, Poh Li San, Mariam Jaafar
National Solidarity Party: Spencer Ng, Sathin Ravindran, Ivan Yeo Tiong Boon, Sebastian Teo, Yadzeth Hairis
Sengkang GRC
People’s Action Party: Ng Chee Meng, Lam Pin Min, Amrin Amin, Raymond Lye
Workers’ Party: Jamus Lim, Raeesah Khan, Louis Chua, He Ting Ru
Tampines GRC
People’s Action Party: Masagos Zukifli, Koh Poh Koon, Desmond Choo, Baey Yam Keng, Cheng Li Hui
National Solidarity Party: Reno Fong, Mohd Ridzwan Mohammad, Yeo Ren-Yuan, Choong Hon Heng, Vincent Ng
Tanjong Pagar GRC
People’s Action Party: Chan Chun Sing, Indranee Rajah, Joan Pereira, Alvin Tan, Eric Chua
Progress Singapore Party: Michael Chua, Harish Pillay, Wendy Low, Terence Soon, Abas Kasmani
West Coast GRC
People’s Action Party: S Iswaran, Desmond Lee, Ang Wei Neng, Rachel Ong, Foo Mee Har
Progress Singapore Party: Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa, Leong Wai Mun, Jeffrey Khoo, Nadarajah Loganathan
Bukit Batok SMC
People’s Action Party: Murali Pillai
Singapore Democratic Party: Chee Soon Juan
Bukit Panjang SMC
People’s Action Party: Liang Eng Hwa
Singapore Democratic Party: Paul Tambyah
Hong Kah North SMC
People’s Action Party: Amy Khor
Progress Singapore Party: Gigene Wong
Hougang SMC
People’s Action Party: Lee Hong Chuang
Workers’ Party: Dennis Tan
Kebun Baru SMC
People’s Action Party: Henry Kwek
Progress Singapore Party: Kumaran Pillai
MacPherson SMC
People’s Action Party: Tin Pei Ling
People’s Power Party: Goh Meng Seng
Marymount SMC
People’s Action Party: Gan Siow Huang
Progress Singapore Party: Ang Yong Guan
Mountbatten SMC
People’s Action Party: Lim Biow Chuan
Peoples Voice: Sivakumaran Chellappa
Pioneer SMC
People’s Action Party: Patrick Tay
Progress Singapore Party: Lim Cher Hong
Independent: Cheang Peng Wah
Potong Pasir SMC
People’s Action Party: Sitoh Yih Pin
Singapore People’s Party: Jose Raymond
Punggol West SMC
People’s Action Party: Sun Xue Ling
Workers’ Party: Tan Chen Chen
Radin Mas SMC
People’s Action Party: Melvin Yong
Reform Party: Kumar Appavoo
Yio Chu Kang SMC
People’s Action Party: Yip Hon Weng
Progress Singapore Party: Kayla Low
Yuhua SMC
People’s Action Party: Grace Fu
Singapore Democratic Party: Robin Low
#5 Surprises: No-Shows And Switches
In a surprise move, Heng Swee Keat moved over from Tampines GRC, where he had been since he was first elected into Parliament, to contest in East Coast GRC and taking on the Workers’ Party team that includes the popular Nicole Seah.
Despite much fanfare and excitement over his possible candidacy, Lee Hsien Yang was not one of the candidates for GE2020.
Needless to say, the existence of 3-corner fights, especially in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, would be a disappointment to opposition supporters, since non-PAP voters will have their votes diluted.
