April 16, 2025
Singapore – A new law prohibiting the forgery or digitization of online materials, the election will forge candidates for the first time.
Eld said when announcing campaign guidelines on April 15 that rules related to online campaigns would protect prospective candidates who have paid the election deposit and agreed to their candidates’ disclosure.
“These rules will be the first time GE2025 has been formulated and will help maintain the authenticity of the representatives in the election,” it said in a statement.
The campaign period will begin after the nomination process ends on April 23rd and runs until the cooling day on May 2nd. Singaporeans will go to the poll on May 3.
The election date was announced on April 15, shortly after President Talman Shanmugaratnam's proposal to evacuate the 14th Parliament of Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Huang.
Here are Singapore’s campaign guides for election preparation:
No new banners, banners and posters before the campaign period
Eld said that new banners, flags and posters that constitute election ads are not allowed until the nomination lawsuit ends on April 23.
Town Councils and other organizations may have visual displays in public places, such as banners with messages like “Welcome to (Heritage Name)” that include names, images or party symbols of individuals who may be potential candidates.
Although these are part of the regular advocacy effort and are not related to elections, the public may mistakenly think it is election advertisements, Eld said.
As a result, the display of such materials will be regulated starting from April 15. However, if existing banners, logos and posters meet the following criteria:
- They were legal and open constituencies before the election writ was issued on April 15;
- Since then, they have not been repositioned, changed or modified; and
- If an election advertisement is to be retained as an election, it will be announced to the return officer within 12 hours of issuing the writ.
The ban also does not apply to banners, logos or posters used as permanent location markers. Such materials may only display names, symbols, or two parties and must be permanently posted as follows:
- on the exterior walls or windows of buildings occupied by political parties; or
- On exterior walls, fences or other structures, the boundary of the ground where the building is located.
Furthermore, these displays must be merely to indicate that the party’s office is located in a building, or to determine the party’s business or charitable activities carried out there.
Returning officer appointed by PM Wong has authorized AETOS security management to implement display rules during elections.
Once notified, the party will have three hours to remove any undeclared or unqualified materials. If they don't, AETOS can be instructed to step in, and the candidate must bear the cost of dismissal and declare it as part of the cost of the election.
Walking and visiting before nomination date
Elder said that if walking and visits are allowed, and if for purposes of meeting residents, there is no need for police permission.
However, it shall not be expressly used to express support or objection to any person, group or government or to promote any cause or campaign.
Online election
Candidates can run online through social media, websites, podcasts and emails in accordance with the rules of the Online Election Advertising (OEA) in the Parliamentary Election Act 1954 and the Parliamentary Election Act 2024 (Election Advertising) Ordinance.
Eld said it was to ensure transparency and accountability for all ads.
Only political parties, candidates and election agents can publish paid online election ads. Others can publish these advertisements only if they obtain written authorization from candidates or election agents.
Singaporeans can post unpaid ads themselves.
Under a new law in the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) Act, the bill will implement the election for the first time, prohibiting the generation or manipulation of content digitally to misrepresent the speech or actions of potential candidates.
The public can view the ELD website for the latest list of potential candidates. This will be updated daily.
“Disclosures are prohibited during the elections of OEAs that are actually generated or manipulated, and these OEA reality misrepresents the speech or actions of potential or nominated candidates,” Eld said.
This includes using generative artificial intelligence or other technologies such as Photoshop, dubbing or adding new audio on existing shots, as well as clipping, cutting and connecting clips to change their meaning.
Meanwhile, all online ads, whether paid or unpaid, must display the names of all the people who play an active role in publishing them.
Paid ads must include a message or statement to indicate that they are sponsored or paid, and the name of the person who paid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiquvs7d838
Eld added that if Singaporean citizens who are not candidates or election agents are not required to comply with these “publishing” rules if they publish an unpaid OEA in their own capacity rather than in the direction of others.
All election ads must be stopped during the cooling period on May 2 and 3, which are cooling and voting days. And only OEAs published before these days can remain. Re-expression, re-publishing or promoting existing advertising is also not allowed.
Individuals of Singaporean citizens are not allowed to participate in any election activities and to publish or display any election advertisements during the election.
Use movies in campaigns
The use of films in campaigns is subject to the Film Act of 1981, which prohibits the import, production, copying, distribution or exhibition of party political films.
According to ELD, a party political film is an advertisement for any party in Singapore or “any body that is completely or primarily related to Singapore politics.”
The movie “targets any political end in Singapore” also falls into this category.
“The ban applies to all and aims to keep politics objective and rational,” Elder said.
But there are some exceptions to this rule.
Elder said that films that “facts and objectives” are allowed, “not presenting distorted pictures of facts”.
Some exceptions include:
- Any gathering of any performance, person or parade held under the law, does not depict any live records of any event, person or situation in a dramatic way;
- A film without animated and dramatic elements, a manifesto represented or represented by a political party or candidate, or a full production of the policies or ideology of the party authorized by the candidate and seeking to be elected to parliament;
- Movies intended to be recorded for those participating in an event or occasion; and
- Movies are for the purpose of reporting news for licensed broadcast services only.
Publishing of Election Survey and Exit Polls
Publish the results of the election survey, exit the poll or the so-called election results, and the issuance of the election order is not allowed until the voting date is completed.
During this time, the public should not conduct surveys or polls on social media platforms, online forums, messaging services or websites where results can be viewed.
Elder said doing so would be considered a violation. The results of the election investigation are also not allowed to be republished.
An election survey is an opinion survey on how voters will vote in an election, or voters’ preference for candidates or any identifiable candidates’ issues related to them in the election.
An export poll is any statement about how voters vote or make predictions about election results, in which the statement or prediction is based on information after the voter votes.
No foreign intervention, negative campaigns and banned people
Elder said only Singaporean citizens can participate in elections and campaigns, and candidates must avoid being “a vector or victim of foreign intervention.”
It added that this is because the outcome of the Singapore election must be decided only by Singaporeans.
Candidates should also not seek foreign support for their campaigns.
Elder said candidates should also be wary of suspicious behavior and hidden agendas to keep their electoral movements free of foreign interference.
Eld also urged candidates, election agents and authorized representatives to “sport in a responsible and dignified manner to fit the severity of the election process”. This means negative campaigns based on hatred and derogatory opposition candidates.
Nor should they make false statements, such as baseless allegations of corruption or criminal offenses, or statements that may lead to racial or religious tensions or affect social cohesion.
Those under the age of 16, or under the supervision order signed under section 30(1)(b) of the Criminal Code of 1955, are not allowed to participate in any election activities.
Foreigners and foreign entities are also prohibited from participating in any election activities.
Political parties and civic organizations represent candidates to run for election
Under the law, anyone engaged in activities supporting a candidate must be authorized in writing by the candidate or his election agent.
Before citizens, business or professional institutions participate in any political activity, or allow their funds or premises to be used for political purposes, they shall ensure that their constitution allows them to do so. They should also make sure that they do so without violating any laws.
These political activities include acknowledging candidates and publishing advertisements, or publishing news reports on support for candidates.
Elder said the advertisements or statements that constitute election advertisements should comply with the law.
- Vanessa Paige Chelvan is the correspondent of Straits Time. She has written all the shipping and pens, and has commented occasionally.
- Gabrielle Chan is a reporter for the Traits Times, covering everything related to Singapore’s education.
