2020 Singaporean general election

General elections were held inSingaporeon Friday, 10 July 2020 to elect 93 membersto theParliament of Singaporeacross31 constituencies.Parliament wasdissolvedand thegeneral electioncalled byPresidentHalimah Yacobon 23 June, on the advice ofPrime MinisterLee Hsien Loong.It elected members of parliament to the14th Parliament of Singaporesince Singapore's independence in 1965, using thefirst-past-the-postelectoral system.
The elections were the eighteenth general elections in Singapore and the thirteenth since independence.The rulingPeople's Action Party(PAP) secured its 15th consecutive term in government since 1959; this also led to the party setting its second-longest uninterrupted record among countries with universal suffrage with 66 years in power, only behind Mexico'sInstitutional Revolutionary Partywhich held power for 71 consecutive years.
The results saw the ruling PAP winning 83 elected seats with theWorkers' Party(WP) winning the remaining 10. TheWorkers' Partysuccessfully retained their wards ofAljunied GRCandHougang SMCand captured the newly createdSengkang GRC, constituting the most opposition seats in Parliament since 1966. Sengkang GRC was notably the second GRC won by theWorkers' Party,the first time theWorkers' Partyclaimed multiple GRCs since the creation of the scheme in 1988, and also the first time a newly created constituency was won by an opposition party on its first attempt.
While the PAP managed to secure anothersupermajorityvictory, this election had also led to inroads for non-PAP parties. With the WP polling 50.49% in the 21 seats it contested in a straight fight with the PAP, the 2020 general election marked the first time since1963that the ruling PAP lost the popular vote overall in constituencies contested by the WP and the very first time sinceindependence. In addition, it was also the first election whereby there were more than 1 million valid voters that voted against or cast an invalid/blank vote instead of the PAP.
According to Article 65(4) of theConstitution, the maximum term of any givenParliamentis five years from the date of its first sitting following a general election, after which it is dissolved by operation of law. However, theprime ministermay advise thePresidentto dissolve Parliament at any time during the five-year period.Ageneral electionmust be held within three months after every dissolution of Parliament. Elections are conducted by theElections Department(ELD), which is under thePrime Minister's Office.
There are 93 elected seats in Parliament organised into 14Single Member Constituencies(SMCs) and 17Group Representation Constituencies(GRCs). Each SMC returns one Member of Parliament using thefirst past the post(FPTP) voting system, while each GRC returns four or five MPs through theparty block votingelectoral system, where at least one of whom must be from the Malay, Indian or other minority communities. A group of candidates wishing to stand for election in a GRC must all be members of the same political party, or a group of independent candidates, resulting in a situation where the victorious party obtains 100% of the seats in a given GRC. Thevoting agein Singapore is 21 years, with eligibility to voters who were born before 1 March 1999; as such, it was the first election where voters born onGeneration Z(in mid-1990s) were part of the electorate.
On 23 June 2020 at 16:00 Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loongannounced during a live televised announcement that PresidentHalimah Yacobhad dissolved the13th Parliament of Singaporeon the same day and had issued a writ of election with nominations to be held a week later on 30 June 2020.
Thereturning officerwas Tan Meng Dui, a former deputy secretary at theMinistry of National Developmentand CEO of theNational Environment Agency. This is his first election as Returning Officer, taking over from Ng Wai Choong who had served in this role in theprevious general election.
The governingPeople's Action Partyhas been in power since 1959 and is currently led by the prime minister,Lee Hsien Loong. The leading opposition party is theWorkers' Partyled byPritam Singh, with six elected seats and threeNCMPseats before the election. A total of ten opposition parties challenged the ruling party in this election.
The Elections Department introduced several new features for this election to help ease the election process for voters, candidates and election volunteers. Registration of voters on polling day will be done electronically and election officials need not manually strike out a voter's particulars from a hardcopy register of electors.Voters will be able to mark their candidate(s) choices more clearly using self-inking pens and enjoy shorter queuing time with the introduction of the e-registration system. Candidates are able to fill in most of the necessary documents online while election volunteers are able to count the number of votes within a shorter duration with the help of counting machines, enabling election results to be released at least 50 minutes earlier.In addition, there will be more polling stations, reducing the average number of voters per polling station from 3,000 to about 2,400. Senior citizens above the age of 65 will be given priority to vote between 8 am and 12 pm on Polling Day.
Election recountcan occur if the margin of results for a constituency are within a 2% range (or scores between 49% and 51%). Unlike the previous elections, the recount is now triggered automatically rather than being called out manually from the candidates or counting agents, which was previously seen in 1991 (Nee Soon Central SMC), 2011 (bothPresidentialand Potong Pasir SMC) and 2015 (Aljunied GRC); additionally, a standby counting machine would be used for recount instead of being manually counted. Similar to past elections, overseas votes is disregarded during a recount of votes as it does not cause any impact from the eventual results, unless if the total overseas electorate is greater than the difference of votes.
On 27 January 2016, an amendment to theConstitutionwas passed, increasing the minimum number of opposition Members of Parliament by three to 12 members. This is the first increase for the number of opposition MPs allocated since the2011 Singaporean general election, when it was increased from three members to nine.As in the case for previous elections, NCMP seats are offered to the best-performing non-elected opposition candidates, with the number determined by the total number of opposition candidates elected; if there are at least 12 opposition candidates elected, then NCMP seats will not be offered, as previously seen in the1991 election. The names of the eligible candidates are announced a few days after the polling day. Candidates may decline the post if offered, as was seen previously in the1984and2015elections.
The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee is made up of senior civil servants and charged with adjusting the boundaries of electoral divisions prior to an election. The government officially claims this as necessary to ensure minority participation in Parliament amidst demographic changes while ensuring an equitable number of voters represented per MP, though critics have raised allegations ofgerrymanderingto disadvantage the opposition.As of 2015, there were 16 GRCs and 13 SMCs. Prime Minister Lee convened the committee on 1 August 2019 with instructions to reduce the size of GRCs and increase the number of SMCs.The exact date of formation was revealed only when Pritam Singh asked Trade and Industry MinisterChan Chun Singin a written reply in Parliament.
The Committee released its report on 13 March 2020 with the formation of 17 GRCs and 14 SMCs.For the first time since1991, six-member GRCs were eliminated and reduced to five. A newSengkang GRCwas formed from portions of the former Punggol East and Sengkang West SMCs and the boundaries of Tampines GRC were altered for the first time since2001, due to the increase in population in the northeastern area of Singapore. Four new SMCs were also carved out (Kebun Baru,Yio Chu Kang,MarymountandPunggol West), three former SMCs were absorbed into neighbouring GRCs (Fengshan,Punggol EastandSengkang West), while two SMCs (Hong Kah NorthandPotong Pasir) had their boundaries modified. The remaining SMCs and four GRCs (Aljunied,Holland–Bukit Timah,JurongandTanjong Pagar) were left untouched, though the Workers' Party raised questions on the abolition of SMCs that it had previously contested and lost by a narrow margin. The changes saw about 13% of voters being allocated to a new constituency and increased the number of seats from 89 to 93.
The changes made in the electoral divisions are as follows:
During aStraits Timesforum on 11 March, Deputy Prime MinisterHeng Swee Keatsaid that the timing of the elections could be affected in view of the worsening pandemic.On 25 March, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament that he believed it would be unconstitutional for the President to form a caretaker government unless a state of emergency had been recommended by the Cabinet to thePresident.
On 28 March, Tan Cheng Bock responded to Teo's comments by saying that the unconstitutional nature of a caretaker government as a result of a postponing a general election would be far more preferred than having a health emergency by exposing millions of Singaporeans to potential COVID-19 infection.
On 7 April, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing introduced the Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill toParliamentwhich would allow voters under Stay-Home Notices or Quarantine Orders related to COVID-19 to vote outside of their normal electoral divisions in the upcoming General Election.The Bill was passed by Parliament on 4 May and assented to by the President on 15 May.The Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Act 2020 came into operation on 26 May.
On 1 July, the Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Regulations 2020 was made to provide for mobile polling teams at special polling stations and to allow voters who have fever or on COVID-19 stay orders to vote from 7 pm to 8 pm on polling day.
On 18 June, the ELD introduced temporary measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, such as no rallies and TV screenings pertaining to the election are to be held, instead replacing with e-rallies and a new "Constituency Political Broadcast",and nomination centres will no longer admit members of the public or supporters during nomination day. Walkabouts and campaigning vehicles are still allowed, though safe distancing and minimal physical contact still applies, and candidates are also not allowed to make speeches or physical rallies, including during the campaigning from campaigning vehicles, meaning that there will be no parades held by the candidates after the election,though it can still broadcast any pre-recorded messages.
Voters were given a recommended two-hour time slot to cast their vote on Polling Day (from 8 am to 8 pm) on their ballot card as a measure to counter long queues during polling. Measures for safe distancing still apply on polling day. Voters with fever or respiratory symptoms would be denied entry from the polling stations, except during the last hour (7 pm to 8 pm).Voters who are unable to vote because of medical issues, or because they are overseas, will be delisted from the registrar of voters due tomandatory voting, but will not need to pay the $50 fee for reinstating their names. Voters had to use hand sanitizer before voting, and were initially required to wear disposible gloves, but this was later changed due to the requirement causing long queues.Elderly voters above the age of 65 were given a special time slot in the morning. The restrictions caused long queues at polling stations.
For overseas voting (which was held in ten cities,Dubai,London,Tokyo,Beijing,Washington, D.C.,Hong Kong,Shanghai,San Francisco,New York CityandCanberra), voting was subject to the approval of the authorities in the affected countries, while ELD announced that they would release the arrangements for returning Singaporeans who are issued a mandatory 14-daystay home noticeto vote in hotels and reducing the risk of infecting others.These arrangements were later officially announced on 1 July, when the Singapore government announced that special polling stations will be set up inMarina Bay SandsandJW Marriott HotelSingapore South Beach to accommodate voters serving their stay-home notices in the two hotels.
350 voters who are quarantined at the time did not vote as they are not allowed to leave their place where they were currently isolated to cast their vote.
The polls were slated to close at 8 pm; however, in an unprecedented move in Singapore electoral history, the Elections Department extended the voting hours till 10 pm, just within two hours before its initial closing time. According to the Elections Department, there were long queues at some polling stations, and the extension was to "allow enough time for all voters to cast their votes".This drew criticism from several opposition parties for compromising the integrity of the election, as some were unable to field a polling agent to supervise the sealing of ballot boxes.The Elections Department replied that polling and counting procedures will continue as normal.
On 13 March 2016, the PAP MP forBukit Batok SMCDavid Ongresigned over personal indiscretions with a party grassroots activist. In the subsequentBukit Batok by-election, the PAP candidate and former Aljunied GRC candidateMurali Pillaidefeated the opposition SDP candidate Chee Soon Juan to reclaim the seat for the PAP.
In the lead up to the2017 Singapore presidential election,Speaker of Parliamentand MP forMarsiling–Yew Tee GRCHalimah Yacob resigned from the party on 7 August 2017 to fulfil regulations which prohibit thePresident of Singaporefrom any party affiliations.As she had vacated her seat in Parliament, there were calls for a by-election, though the Court of Appeal eventually ruled that there was "no duty to call a by-election when a single vacancy arises in a GRC".
On 23 November 2018, Heng Swee Keat and Chan Chun Sing were respectively elected as the party's first and second assistant secretary-general to the PAP's 35th Central Executive Committee (CEC).The two assistant posts were seen as an indicator of Lee Hsien Loong's successor, given that the upcoming election is likely to be Lee's last.Following the announcement of Heng Swee Keat's appointment as the soledeputy prime ministeron 1 May 2019, succeedingTeo Chee HeanandTharman Shanmugaratnam, former MPInderjit Singhsaid that the PAP intends to showcase Heng's imminent ascent to the top post and dispel rumours of any surprises in the leadership succession.
On 3 November 2017, then-secretary-general and Aljunied GRC incumbent MPLow Thia Khiangannounced during a speech on the party's 60th anniversary that he would not contest the next party elections.During the party's 2016 CEC election,Chen Show Maohad mounted a surprise challenge for the leadership post but lost the election to Low in a 41–65 vote. In the leadership election on 8 April 2018, Pritam Singh was elected unopposed as successor to Low as the party's new secretary-general.
Observers say that the lack of a contest was a good sign of internal unity, and that the party is keen to demonstrate its multiracial credentials now that it has a non-Chinese secretary-general, for the first time since 2001 withJ. B. Jeyaretnam.
On 30 April 2020, Low was hospitalised due to a head injury, and was discharged on 21 May.On 25 June, while Low was on rehabilitation, the party announced he (and along with Chen andPng Eng Huat) will not seek election for the first time in his 32-year career, though he has not ruled out his retirement from politics;in his interview, he cited his satisfaction on his leadership, saying that 'I felt my work was done'.It would be the last election where Low was active as he announced his political retirement on 7 December 2024.
Many opposition parties criticized the PAP government's handling of the pandemic. SDP's chairmanPaul Tambyah, who is an infectious disease expert and president-elect of theInternational Society for Infectious Diseases, claimed that the government was more concerned over a shortfall of masks than public health when it issued advisories not to wear masks unless a person was unwell. Peoples Voice chief Lim Tean also charged that the PAP had failed to act with "speed and decisiveness" despite having reportedly learnt the lessons fromSARS17 years ago. PSP candidate Ang Yong Guan questioned the belated "one-month delay" response after a foreign worker was admitted to hospital, which saw the virus rapidly spreading within their dormitories unchecked, leading to Singapore having the highest number of cases withinASEAN.PSP chief Tan Cheng Bock, in his 2 July Party Political Broadcast said the PAP government's "boasting in January failed to prepare Singapore for the explosion of dormitory cases in April."
During the English-language debate, SDP Secretary-GeneralChee Soon Juantouched on one of its campaign promises of saying no to a 10 million population in Singapore, citing a 2019 article fromThe Straits Times, to which PAP representativeVivian Balakrishnanreplied that thePrime Minister's Officehad issued a statement that day "advising people like you not to indulge in falsehoods" and denied that there would be a population of 10 million in Singapore, adding that the figure was a "strawman".
PAP candidate and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat denied saying that Singapore should plan to increase its population to 10 million people. He reiterated the Singapore government's stance that it had "never proposed or targeted for Singapore to increase the population to 10 million". PAP candidate Vivian Balakrishnan also called for the SDP to clarify its claim. Nevertheless, the SDP later claimed victory for pressuring the PAP into declaring that it did not have a population target of 10 million, to which a PAP spokesman denounced as a "falsehood" which "renders the campaign pointless, and calls into question the integrity of the whole party".The National Population and Talent Division of the Prime Minister's Office also objected to the claim.
The dispute between the PAP and the SDP continued, with Paul Tambyah and Chee Soon Juan defending SDP's decision to press the PAP about plans for a population target of 10 million for Singapore, saying that PAP was now forced to clarify and assure Singaporeans that there are no such plans.Paul pointed out that PAP could have clarified the matter earlier but did not do so, adding that he was "baffled" that the PAP called the target a "falsehood" perpetuated by the SDP.Both WP and PSP also reacted to the dispute; WP Secretary-General Pritam Singh said that there was "room for fair comment" as it was not clear if SDP's stance could be considered a "falsehood" or not; however he did not endorse either side and said that it was a matter that WP was not involved in. Separately, PSP Secretary-General Tan Cheng Bock said that the issue came about due to a lack of transparency from the Singapore government.Heng Swee Keat claimed that the SDP had "erected abogeyman" and said that he was expecting integrity and honesty from all candidates contesting in the election, to which Tambyah said that the PAP "should take up any unhappiness it may have over the claim withThe Straits Times", adding that Singaporeans should read the article concerned to make their own judgements.PAP later issued a statement, saying that it was "disappointed but not surprised" at SDP's response, and claimed that "the SDP have dug their heels in, repeated their falsehoods and refused to apologise to Singaporeans for misleading them" and that "Dr Chee has not changed, cannot change and will never change".
Paul Tambyah and Chee Soon Juan responded to PAP's statement issued the previous day; Tambyah said that PAP's comments were "a sign of desperation" and that it showed that PAP had "run out of ideas" and "resorted to the old PAP tactics of just politics of personal destruction", while Chee said PAP was "beating a dead horse".Nevertheless, the two SDP leaders said that it was time for the election campaign to move on from the dispute.In addition, theAssociation of Women for Action and Researchcriticised PAP's statement to SDP the previous day as PAP had used an analogy involvingspousal abuseto make a point.Both SDP and PV's Facebook pages, as well as several other Facebook pages belonging to others, were issued correction directions by the alternate authority of theProtection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation ActOffice over the claim of plans for a population target of 10 million for Singapore.
In introducing WP's manifesto, Pritam Singh stated that there was a "real risk" of a wipeout of elected opposition MPs, adding that WP candidates must be voted into Parliament to serve the public in Parliament and strengthen democracy.PAP Secretary-General Lee Hsien Loong said that the possibility was an unrealistic outcome, claiming that Singh's argument was "a tactic" and added that he was "usingreverse psychology".Two other PAP incumbent candidates, Chan Chun Sing andIndranee Rajah, also responded to Singh's point, saying that it would be a mistake for voters to think that the PAP would return to power effortlessly, while adding that it was important for the PAP to get a "clear and strong endorsement" from the people.
On 5 July, reports emerged that two separate police reports were lodged against WP's Sengkang GRC candidateRaeesah Khanfor her online comments, which allegedly promoted enmity between different religious and racial groups. Her Facebook post in May 2020 had criticised the Singapore law enforcement authorities for discriminating against Singaporean citizens and said that "rich Chinese" and "white people" were treated differently under the law, which was largely based on the differences in sentences handed out to individuals who broke thecircuit breaker measuresin the midst of theCOVID-19 pandemic, and another Facebook post in February 2018 focused on the2018 City Harvest Church ruling.WP swiftly came out to support Raeesah; in a press conference with WP chief Pritam Singh, chairperson Sylvia Lim and the Sengkang GRC team, Raeesah also apologised and released a statement stating that her intention was "never to cause social divisions but to raise awareness on minority issues", adding that she also regretted making her "insensitive" comments.
Since the incident, many netizens labelled the bringing up of her past comments as a political move, with hashtags such as "#IStandWithRaeesah" trending on Twitter.AChange.orgpetition was made on 6 July to let Raeesah campaign smoothly and conduct investigations only after the elections, which had garnered almost 20,000 signatures by polling day.
On 7 July, PAP released a statement accusing Raeesah of admitting to "making highly derogatory statements about Chinese and Christians" and asked "Why does the WP still consider her worthy of consideration as an MP?"PSP chief Tan Cheng Bock weighed in on the controversy and accused the PAP of engaging in "gutter politics". He questioned the PAP to "look at themselves and see whether they have conducted themselves in a gentlemanly way".Similarly, the police revealed that they were investigating the man who allegedly reported Raeesah over social media comments which intended to wound religious and racial feelings.
On 17 September, theSingapore Police Forceannounced that it had concluded its investigations into the two incidents, and that aside from a "stern warning" to both Raeesah and the blogger; neither action was taken against both.
A series of police reports were made in reaction to the first police report, including one againstHeng Swee Keat, who had remarked that Singaporeans were "not ready for a prime minister from a minority race" or someone that was non-Chinese, and one against the People's Action Party's press statement on WP Raeesah Khan, both on the grounds of promoting enmity between different religious or racial groups.In a statement on 8 July, the police deemed that no offence had been committed by the PAP. TheSingapore Police Force, after consultation with theAttorney-General's Chambers, stated that "Mr Heng's remarks, in the context they were made, do not evidence any intent to wound anyone's racial feelings or promote enmity between different races". Since news broke of the statement released by the police, netizens have spoken out about how they felt Heng's statement was racist.
There were a total 73 new candidates participated in the election, among which include the nation's first femalebrigadier-general,a few former civil servants,and aMRTtrain announcerwho is also a candidate previously withdrew from participating in the previous election.
23 candidates (three were from the Workers' Party) did not stand for candidacy, among which were EmeritusSenior Ministerand second prime ministerGoh Chok Tongwho stepped down from politics after 44 years,Formerleader of the oppositionLow Thia Khiang (the longest serving opposition MP at 29 years),Transport MinisterKhaw Boon Wan,and former ministersLim Hng Kiang,Lim Swee SayandYaacob Ibrahim.
Between the start of election proceedings in March 2020 and nomination day on 30 June 2020, various political parties in Singapore made preparations to contest in the general election by revealing their candidates and manifesto to the general public.
On 30 June 2020 from 11 am to 12 noon SGT, each candidate filed their nomination papers (along with the approval of a proposer, a seconder and at least four assentors), a political donation certificate (by before 26 June), and paid anelection depositofS$13,500 (down from S$14,500 in the previous 2015 election, but also the same amount as seen in the2016 by-election) in one of the nine designated schools or through online to complete their application. Additionally, in the case for Group Representation Constituencies, their team must consist of at least one minority candidate and must also submit a community committee form (Malay/Muslim or Indian/other minority which is dependent on the constituency's requirements).
The list of nine schools designated as nomination centres were:
As in the case of previous elections, candidates will lose their deposit if they are unable to garner at least one-eighth (12.5%) of the valid votes cast within the contested constituency.
Following nomination day, all 93 seats were contested by 192 candidates from 11 parties, the most ever in the history of independent Singapore, surpassing the record set from the2015 election, and thus become the second consecutive election not to have awalkoverin any constituency.There were also a record number of female candidates participating in the election, with 40 of them contesting.Only two constituencies,Pasir Ris–Punggol GRCandPioneer SMC, saw a three-cornered fight, with the former being the first multi-cornered contest inside a Group Representation Constituency since the1992 Marine Parade by-election28 years prior.
Between nomination day (30 June 2020) and polling day (10 July 2020), candidates began campaigning on various media platforms. Online e-rallies were held in light of theCOVID-19 pandemic,and political broadcasts (by party and by constituency) were aired on national television.Two round table political debates, one in English and the other in Mandarin, were also held.On the eve of polling day also known ascooling-off day, campaigning was prohibited except for party political broadcasts.
Polls closed at 10 pm and vote counting began soon after. The results were announced by thereturning officerTan Meng Dui, who is also CEO of theNational Environment Agency.
Similar to the2015 Singaporean general electionand2016 by-election,sample countswere released by the Elections Department prior to the announcement of the actual results to prevent any unnecessary speculation or reliance on unofficial sources of information while counting was still under way.
The first results were announced at 1:22 am forBukit Panjang SMCwhere thePAPwas elected with 53.74% of the vote. The last results came at 3:44 am, whenAljunied GRCandNee Soon GRCwere announced to have been retained by WP and the PAP with 59.93% and 61.90% respectively.
PAP's vote share island-wide was reduced to 61.24%, down from 69.86% in the last election in 2015 and its lowest share since the2011 elections. In addition to retaining the six seats it held in the last election, the WP also went on to win the newSengkang GRC, making it the second GRC to be won by an opposition party and the first time in history a new constituency was captured by an opposition party on its first attempt, creating the largest representation for any single opposition party in Parliament since 
independence, with 10 MPs. WP's victory in Sengkang also lead to the defeat of cabinet ministerNg Chee Meng, who became the third cabinet minister to lose re-election since independence, afterLim Hwee HuaandGeorge Yeolost inAljuniedin 2011.The WP also broke the record for overall contested vote share for any opposition party with 50.49% of the votes, surpassing the previous record of 48.55% held by theSingapore Democratic Partyin1991. Six candidates, one from a SMC and five from a GRC, each lost their $13,500 deposit in the election, the biggest number of candidates to do so since the1980 election. Furthermore, out of 40 female candidates, 28 women (including four opposition members) were elected as MPs, setting a record for the most ever female MPs in parliament, at 29% of the chamber, including its first female minority opposition and youngest MP-elect at 26 years of age,Raeesah Khan.
In western Singapore, the PSP and SDP made massive inroads, reducing landslide PAP vote margins with huge swings against the PAP, converting them intomarginal seats, most notablyBukit Batok(54.80%),Bukit Panjang(53.74%) andWest Coast(51.69%). The latter also saw a swing of 26.88% against the PAP, the largest in any constituency in this election, which helped the PSP win twonon-constituencyseats even as the PAP retained the constituency. They were taken up by Hazel Poa andLeong Mun Waifor achieving the best-performing non-elected result of any opposition slate, which was confirmed on 14 July.For the second consecutive election, the PAPsafe seatofJurong GRCsaw the best result of the PAP, or any party, in any constituency in the election, with 74.62% of the vote.
Excluding the overseas electorate, voter turnout was 95.54%, or 2,535,565 voters, the highest turnout rate of any election (including both general and presidential elections) since the1997 general election, when 95.91% voted.1.81% of votes cast were invalid votes, the lowest rate in a general election in independent Singapore, and the lowest rate since the1963 electionwhen 0.99% were invalid (when Singapore was still a state in Malaysia).
ThePAPremained strong in theCentral Regionwith 66.6% of the valid votes there. This is attributable to the presence of strong constituencies such asAng Mo Kio GRC(constituency ofPrime MinisterLee Hsien Loong). TheWPwon all of its 10 seats in theNortheast, just one seat behind the ruling PAP. The PAP polled only 54.8% in that region to the WP's 28.1%. The Central and Northeast Region elected 44 seats of the 93 up for grabs - or 47% of the total elected seats. In terms of electors, they were the largest regions at the time of the election. The PAP's dismal performance in the Northeast was a drag force on its national vote share, explaining why the PAP's vote share fell to 61.2% nationwide. This figure could have been much lower had they performed badly in the west - the PAP polled 64.0% in theNorthwestand 61.4% in theSouthwestwhile polling only 58.5% in theSoutheast. While thePSPwas close to capturingWest Coast GRC, most of its votes were generated from constituencies it contested outside of the North and Southwest regions. This explains why the PAP managed to poll above 60% in the west overall.
B/C = Constituency has experienced a boundary change since the last election.
In a press conference held in the early hours of 11 July following the results, Prime Minister Lee described PAP's 61.24% of the popular vote as "respectable" and reflected "broad-based support for the PAP" but "was not as strong a mandate as [he] had hoped for". He pledged to use the "clear mandate" responsibly to take Singapore "safely through the (COVID-19) crisis and beyond". Lee also acknowledged that there was a "clear desire" for alternative voices in parliament especially from young and first time voters and called the loss of three incumbent office holders in Sengkang as a "major loss" to his team. In an unprecedented move, Lee announced that Workers' Party leaderPritam Singhwould be designated as the officialLeader of the Oppositionand "will be provided with appropriate staff support and resources" to perform his role.Lee added that 24 newly elected first-time PAP MPs will "reinforce the renewal process" of the party. Lee added that he was "determined" to hand over to a new team of leaders in good working order after the COVID-19 crisis is overcome. Finally, PM Lee also suggested that disruption caused by the circuit breaker and the safe distancing restrictions just before the election which led to loss of income and jobs was reflected in the results.
PM Lee added that a thorough review into the conduct of the election would take place, acknowledging that the arrangements "could have been done better" following the reports of long queues at polling stations caused by additional arrangements for COVID-19.
Speaking later in the day while thanking voters with his successful GRC team in Nee Soon GRC, Law and Home Affairs MinisterK. Shanmugamsaid "a lot of soul searching and reflection" would be required to understand the message sent by the voters in the swing against PAP. When asked on his view of the PAP statement which questioned Sengkang GRC WP candidateRaeesah Khanof whether she was "worthy of consideration as an MP" which was said to have backfired and resulted in a WP victory, Shanmugam suggested that the older generation of Singaporeans takes a different approach with the younger generation of how race and religion is discussed in Singapore. Shanmugam added there "needs to be a way in which the viewpoints of younger Singaporeans" are addressed.In a radio interview withMoney FM 89.3on 28 July, he mentioned that the results reflected the strain in the economy amid COVID-19, and adding that he was keenly aware of the voters' desire, especially younger ones, for diversity of representation in Parliament, with a difference between perception and reality.
Former prime minister Goh Chok Tong called PAP's victory a "clear mandate" and called PM Lee's move to designate Pritam Singh as official leader of the opposition a "very significant move". He added opposition MPs and NCMPs will now have to "go beyond merely serving as a check-and-balance" and "put forward their alternative policies and solutions" to Singaporeans.
On 17 July,Lawrence Wongmentioned on a separate virtual conference for the multi-task force relating to the social distancing in Hougang Avenue 5 after the polling hours ended that featured a large group of WP supporters making close contacts despite wearing masks and safe distancing, which produced a safe-distancing risks by individuals. Wong told that Singaporeans should not be complacent and added a warning that "anyone decides to abandon caution, thinks that, 'It's okay'" could "put the whole country at risk". Despite the warning, however, there was no change in the enforcement and Wong believed that polling was conducted in open spaces and there was no close contact in terms of touching and talking, and had arranged voters different safety protocols while they cast their votes.
On 19 July,Senior MinisterandCo-ordinating Minister for Social PoliciesTharman Shanmugaratnam mentioned that the politics had been changed permanently after the election, one with a solid mandate and one for a changing electorate, adding a fact on the results that "were also good for opposition politics", especially the performance for the WP and "reflected a discerning public and a political culture that bodes well for Singapore." Tharman aimed to achieve the balance and having a "vigorous and informed" debate between PAP and the oppositions in the upcoming government to improve efficiency and democracy.
Workers' Party leaderPritam Singhsaid he was "grateful" and "humbled" at the support WP received, adding that he was "not feeling euphoric at all" and acknowledged "a lot of work to do". He reminded the successful candidates to keep their feet "firmly grounded" after the WP secured a second GRC in Sengkang and held onto Aljunied and Hougang with increased margins.In a Facebook post, he wrote that he looked forward to doing his best serving as leader of the opposition.
Progress Singapore PartyleaderTan Cheng Bocksaid he was proud that his party achieved an average vote share of 40.85% in the seats it contested on their maiden election despite being founded a year prior. He called it "the beginning of a new chapter for PSP", and believes the "movement" that he created will grow. He added that the party executive committee will discuss sending two candidates from West Coast GRC to serve the NCMP role in Parliament.
Singapore Democratic PartyleaderChee Soon Juansaid the SDP ran a "very good campaign" focused on policies and issues but "came up short" on winning. He thanked voters and said the SDP "will continue to press on". SDP chairmanPaul Tambyahadded they could "hold (their) heads high for a strong campaign under the circumstances" and "will do better the next time". Tambyah accused the PAP government of "recklessness and opportunism" for holding the election during a pandemic, and also called the long queues of voters due to the requirement to wear gloves when casting ballots and lack of personal protective equipment for polling agents when voters on stay home orders came to vote as a "fiasco".
Under the current constitution, opposition will be guaranteed 12 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. The number of NCMPs offered will be 12 less the number of elected MPs; there are 10 opposition-elects and thus two NCMPs will be offered after the election. Additional rules also states there could be up to two NCMPs from the best performing GRC and one from the best performing SMC.
Since theProgress Singapore Party(PSP) team led by Tan Cheng Bock contesting in theWest Coast GRCwere the best-performing losing opposition team by garnering 48.31% of valid votes, both NCMPs seats were offered to PSP.On 14 July, PSP announced thatHazel PoaandLeong Mun Waiwill take up the two NCMP positions, making them the third and fourth NCMPs that were not from WP, and a parliament with three parties representing since the12th Parliament; it also marked the first election since2001the NCMPs are not awarded to WP.Leong and Poa's election as NCMPs were finalised by the Returning Officer Tan on 16 July.
On 14 July, Koh Siong Ling, the head of the Election Department, issued an apology to the public and senior voters, while conducting a review on what went wrong during the election, such as long queues during voting in the early morning hours (a timing block reserved for senior voters) unlike previous elections, and the queues which was likely caused by an unnecessary, additional step on equipping disposable gloves, as voters had sanitised their hands a few times prior.ELD also acknowledged the procedures needed to ensure safety of the voters while revealed that they have removed a mandatory step on wearing gloves in the midst of election and there were difficulties experienced by voters on its station layout, though revealed that the queues were mostly improved by 2 pm and the extension of polling hours, despite adopting safe distancing practices.ELD also reviewed that 13 voters who were still serving the Stay-Home Notice did not vote that day due to the duration.
On 15 July, ELD revealed that a technical glitch had occurred in one of the voting centers forHolland-Bukit Timah GRC. A voter had reported being unable to vote due to the system stating that she had already cast her vote prior. The case was escalated to the assistant returning officer and the police. Investigations revealed human error had resulted in the e-registration system being inadvertently logged out which prevented the registration of her NRIC into the system. ELD subsequently apologised to the voter over the mishap and allowed her to restore her name while exempting the $50 payment fee.
At about 11:40 pm on 15 July, Elections Department published a report for overseas votes. The turnout was 4,794, or 72.97% out of the 6,570 voters in total, bringing the overall turnout to 2,540,359 and its percentage to 95.81%. Excluding the 50 spoilt/invalid votes, only 2,710 voters had voted in favour for PAP but percentages for the majority of the constituencies were in favour towards the opposition except for six (Hong Kah North SMC, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Pioneer SMC, Potong Pasir SMC, Punggol West SMC and Sengkang GRC). While the percentages for the 10 constituencies (Ang Mo Kio GRC, Bukit Batok SMC, Chua Chu Kang GRC, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Marymount SMC, Nee Soon GRC, Sembawang GRC, Tampines GRC and Yuhua SMC) were not affected, the PAP's vote share fell to 61.23%.The vote counting was held inside the Elections Department Training Centre at Victoria Street under the witness of most Workers' Party candidates.
The new cabinet was announced on a live televised announcement held inThe Istanaby Prime Minister Lee on Saturday, 25 July at 2:30 pm on his Facebook page as well asCNA,CNA938and YouTube.While most ministry portfolios from the last Parliament were unchanged,Deputy Prime MinisterHeng Swee Keatwas also conferred a brand new portfolio forCo-ordinating Minister for Economic Policies. Ong Ye Kung became theTransport Minister, Lawrence Wong became theEducation Minister,Desmond Leebecame theNational Development Ministerand is also given an additional new portfolio for Minister-in-charge of Social Service Integration;Masagos Zulkifliwas appointed as aSocial and Family Development Ministerand a second minister forHealthwhile relinquishing his Environment Ministry portfolio toGrace Fu(portfolio renaming toMinistry of Sustainability and the Environment);Indranee Rajahwas given National Development portfolio while relinquishing Education and retained both herPrime Minister's OfficeandFinanceportfolios. Lee mentioned that not changing most existing portfolios was to promote continuity and urging a need for experienced ministers to provide steady hands and mentoring the younger ministers, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Eight existing MPs were also promoted, among which Senior Ministers of StateEdwin TongandMaliki Osmanwere promoted to Cabinet ministers asMinister for Culture, Community and Youthand Second Minister for Law, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Education andForeign Affairs, respectively;BackbencherRahayu Mahzamwas promoted to Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health with effect on 1 September; Minister of State for ManpowerZaqy Mohamadpromoting to a Senior Minister of State and also given theDefenceportfolio; senior Parliamentary SecretariesLow Yen Ling,Faishal IbrahimandSun Xuelingas Ministers of State while given new portfolios (Low as Culture, Community and Youth andTrade and Industry, Faishal asHome Affairsand National Development, and Sun as Education and Social and Family Development); andAlex Yamas the new mayor forNorth West Community Development CouncilreplacingTeo Ho Pin.
While not announced live, other portfolios were changed for five existing Senior Ministers of State, among whichAmy Khorrelinquished her Health portfolio for Transport while retaining Sustainability and Environment,Sim Annrelinquished Culture, Community and Youth portfolio for National Development while retainingCommunications and Information,Chee Hong Tatrelinquishing both portfolios for Education and Trade and Industry for Foreign Affairs and Transport,Janil Puthuchearyrelinquishing Transport portfolio for Health while retaining Communications & Information, andKoh Poh Koonrelinquishing Trade and Industry portfolio for Health. Additionally,Tan Wu Menghave relinquished his Senior Parliamentary Secretary portfolios (Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry) and returned to a backbencher, whileBaey Yam Kengrelinquished his Culture, Community and Youth portfolio but retained his Transport ministry. TheCo-ordinating Minister for Infrastructuredid not announce its successor and thus became vacant.
Seven fresh MPs were promoted in the office, among whichTan See Lengbecome the third MP (after Heng andRichard Hu) to be directly promoted to a Cabinet Minister, taking on the portfolios for the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Manpower and Trade and Industry; four were given Minister of State portfolios, namelyGan Siow Huang(Education and Manpower),Alvin Tan(Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry),Desmond Tan(Home Affairs and Sustainability and Environment) andTan Kiat How(Prime Minister's Office and National Development);Eric Chuapromoting as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Social and Family Development with effect on 1 September; andMohd Fahmi Alimanas the new mayor forSouth East Community Development Councilreplacing Maliki.
A total of 37 MPs out of 93 were office holders, the same number that comprises theprevious cabinet; they were inaugurated two days later on 27 July at separate venues inParliament Houseand in The Istana due to safe distancing, a first in Singapore's history the inauguration were held at multiple venues.Finally, Prime Minister Lee announced that the annualNational Day Rallywill be cancelled but will instead deliver his speech when the Parliament opens a month later on 24 August.
The following day, while Foreign MinisterVivian Balakrishnanheld a meeting withMalaysian Foreign MinisterHishammudin Husseinat theJohor–Singapore Causeway,he mentioned on a separate interview that the assembly of the upcoming cabinet was a "complete unity" that balanced the components of continuity, exposure and renewal, and endorses Heng's leadership for the "fourth-generation" (4G) cabinet.
All 10 WP MPs also observed the inauguration that day but fielded into two teams of five, with the Aljunied GRC team attending at The Istana, and Sengkang GRC and Dennis Tan at the Parliament House.The following day, PM Lee announced that Singh would be entitled to additional parliamentary privileges and doubling his annual MP salary to S$385,000 as the leader of the opposition. Lee mentioned on a speech that there was an emerging trend that "shown a strong desire among Singaporeans for a greater diversity of views in politics", and its purpose on adding the role added was to "maintaining our cohesion and sense of national purpose".Previously, the title as a leader of the opposition was unofficial and paid the same reimbursement as a regular MP.When parliament held its first session on 31 August, Parliament also moved a motion allowing Singh to have double time (40 minutes) on making speeches, and entitled to hiring three legislative assistants and one secretarial assistant, as opposed to backbencher's one. Although WP lack candidates required to form aShadow Cabinetdue to thesupermajority, Singh told that they would be scrutinising five key areas that were heavily concerned with (health, ageing and retirement adequacy; jobs, businesses and the economy; education, inequality and the cost of living; housing, transport and infrastructure; and national sustainability). Singh also told while delivering his maiden speech on three things: certain things that changed in Singapore, things that must not change, and things that should change, while described Singapore as a "glass half-full that can be topped up".
On 20 August, the parliament confirmedTan Chuan-Jinwill reprise his role as aSpeaker of Parliament, while Fu and Lee were replaced by Rajah and Zaqy respectively, as the newleader and deputy leaderfor the upcoming parliament.Puthucheary and Sim were also reprised in their roles asParty Whipand deputy Whip respectively.On 31 August, bothChristopher de SouzaandJessica Tanwere elected as Deputy Speakers, replacingCharles ChongandLim Biow Chuan.
Separately, the Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs) were also announced withVikram Nair,Liang Eng HwaandSeah Kian Pengreprising their chairman roles, whileTin Pei Lingreplacing retiring MPCedric Fooas the deputy chairman for the Communications and Information GPC, andSitoh Yih Pin,Patrick Tay,Desmond Choo, Tan Wu Meng,Saktiandi SupaatandLouis Ngas chairmen for the GPCs for Culture, Community and Youth, Education, Manpower, Health, Transport and Sustainability and the Environment, respectively. Most other roles for the GPCs were left untouched.
The 14th parliament opened on 24 August at 8 pm SGT,and similar to the cabinet inauguration, also for the first time in Singapore history, the parliament opened on separate venues due to safe distancing,both on the Parliament House andThe Arts House, the latter being the venue of the former Parliament House before 1999.According to Rajah'sFacebookpost on the eve of opening, the fifth COVID-19 budget statement by Heng a week prior on the 17thwas meant "the best option" and ensuring MPs, businesses and workers proper clarification on the Government's plans before the opening.During the opening,President of SingaporeHalimah Yacobmentioned on her address that the start of the term was "under the shadow of COVID-19" with the situation "remain grave for some time", while the rise of the fourth-generation (4G) cabinet was meant "to take Singapore the next steps forward".Speaker Tan mentioned that the 12-member opposition representation along with Singh's role as the Leader of the Opposition was meant for "contestation", but warned about "polarisation and division" which could causeshort-termismandpopulismif triggered.
On 2 September, Prime Minister Lee revealed on a live broadcast message in Parliament on the decision to open the 14th Parliament early, due to the urgency on dealing COVID-19 and the economy, while praising the current situation on mitigating the infection rate and healthcare, and mentioned that implementing a "Circuit Breaker" for two months was a big move and was successful.
The Ministry of National Development (MND) announced on 30 July that there were 17town councilsformed, with each town council formed from one GRC and at least one SMC in 11 out of 17 towns. Among which, Sengkang Town Council (SKTC) was brand new which was formed from the standalone Sengkang GRC, while 11 towns had changes in at least one of the areas due toredistrictingand carving out divisions into SMCs, such as Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC) which was formed along with Kebun Baru SMC (transferred from Nee Soon Town Council (NSTC)) and Yio Chu Kang SMC, and Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council (BTPTC) and Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC) which were formed from its namesake GRCs and the newly carved Marymount SMCand Punggol West SMC, respectively. The boundaries for the five town councils were untouched from the last parliament term, namely Aljunied-Hougang (AHTC), East Coast-Fengshan (ECTC; renamed to East Coast), Holland-Bukit Panjang (HBPTC), Jurong-Clementi (JCTC) and Tanjong Pagar (TPTC), with the exception of East Coast GRC due to Fengshan SMC being absorbed into, four out of the five GRCs had experienced no boundary changes. 15 out of 17 towns were managed by PAP with the exception of AHTC and SKTC, which were managed by WP.
Under the Town Council Act, each town have until 28 October, 90 days from the date of the order issued, to effectively transfer services to the required towns applicable, though it can also mutually agree to an earlier date.
On 17 July, two weeks ahead of the announcement,He Ting Rurequested to manage their own Sengkang Town Council without any merging of other town councils as a chairwoman of the town council, and added that she also wrote to both AMKTC and PRPTC on 11 July to request a preliminary meeting to discuss the handover, as most of the divisions in Sengkang were under PRPTC in the last election, except Anchorvale, which is based onSengkang West SMC(part of AMKTC).
On 20 July, a legal poser was also brought by the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC) citing that who would be the next plaintiff after the Sengkang ward was claimed by WP; SKTC contains a division (Rivervale) which was based onPunggol East SMC, a ward previously held by the WP between the2013 by-electionand the last election,and AHTC is currently facing a situation of civil lawsuit over a breach of duties and auditing problems worth over S$33 million, which WP had since lodged an appeal prior to the election.On 3 August, the High Court updated lawyer representatives for the AHTC applied amendments to the claims against previous town councillor Singh and four others in a case which was decided last year. The update found Singh and two others councillors, Kenneth Foo and Chua Zhi Hon, were in breach of their duties. According to Singh, the amended statement for which court approval was sought was meant to understand the proposed amendments, which Singh did not reply to a request for comment by press time. A hearing on the application was scheduled to be held in chambers before High Court Justice Ramesh Kannan that day.The defendants were notified by the High Court that the trial had ended and were given a judgement prior, as AHTC filed the lawsuit late in 2017, by then the town would have time to make the claims.In an oral judgment released by Justice Ramesh on 20 August, he mentioned the amendments that pertained to Singh, Chua and Foo were neither involved issues during the trial, and that amendment was sought to allow the three defendants to address any new claims, which is now before the Court of Appeal; however both lawsuits were tried but not consolidated. He ordered the parties to file submissions on costs within one week of the judgment.
On 22 August, the appeal was postponed under a request by He under SKTC to allow "sufficient time" to consider its legal status according to court papers, after she submitted a six-week adjournment on 10 August and explained references to the Town Councils (Declaration) Order 2020 and defended judgements of the court of appeal, added with sought of legal advice. The adjournment was approved by several law firms including theDavinder SinghChambers.
Under the current constitution from the Parliamentary Elections Act, voting in the general election ismandatoryand candidates whodid not cast the voteare delisted from the Registrar of Electors at the end of voting.Including overseas voters, a total of 111,076 voters, which comprises 4.19% of the whole 2,651,435 electors eligible, did not cast the vote on 10 July.
On 5 October, the Election Department announces that the inspection of a list of non-voters were open to public and non-voters can restore their names at any time until the writ of election for the next election is issued. A $50 fee must be paid to reinstate the names, though it can be waived under approved reasons according to the Election Department; the exception is the 350 voters who were quarantined at the time of polling day as the names are automatically restored.
Under the act, all the ballots boxes are sealed and guarded under maximum security inside the vault located at theSupreme Courtwithin six months upon the first locking until 16 January 2021, after which the ballot boxes are transported to Tuas South Incineration Plant for incineration,ensuring integrity and that the privacy of the electors are not compromised. Only a judge of the Supreme Court may have the order to open the sealed boxes and inspect the contents during the time, though it is to institute or maintain a prosecution or an application to invalidate an election.
While electors are allowed for inspection from the date onwards, only the voters who cast in Elias Park Primary School (PN23, or the 23rd polling district for thePasir Ris-Punggol GRC, which encompasses voters from one of the Elias subdivision fromPasir Ris) are unable to do so until 10 January 2021 as a copy of the register of electors was among the documents sealed wrongly by an election officer.PresidentHalimah Yacobapproved the order of retrieving the document; while the ballot box is destroyed after the date, the destruction of the copy is delayed up till 9 February (maximum 30 days) upon its retrieval.The list for PN23 was made available on 25 January, with both PAP andSingapore Democratic Alliance(SDA) witnessing the event.
The number of people witnessing the incineration of boxes on 16 January were on limited capacity because of social distancing, among which members present include new MPsYeo Wan LingandDerrick Goh,and WP representatives Singh andNicole Seah,and SDP's chairmanPaul Tambyah.
On 8 November 2020, the 36th Central Executive Committee for the People's Action Party (PAP) was held. On an announcement, many members were re-elected in their roles, so were new membersEdwin Tong,Alex Yam,Ng Chee Meng, and Victor Lye who were co-opted on 19 November. It also elected Desmond Lee and Grace Fu as Organising Secretaries, while Yam, Chee Hong Tat and Janil Puthucheary were elected as Assistant Organising Secretaries. The CEC also appointed Josephine Teo as the chair of the PAP's Women's Wing, Lee as the chair of the PAP Senior Group (PAP.SG), Puthucheary as the chair of the Young PAP (YP), and Lawrence Wong as the Advisor to PAP Policy Forum (PPF).
In a statement by Prime Minister and party's secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong, the change was meant to keep this cycle going for as long as possible and along with the prior election results. Lee noted on countries that have fiercely contested democratic systems but was not perfect, leading to contestation that often causes politics unstable and divided, with those in power focusing only on their own short-term political survival, and those out of power offering remedies without being upfront about the costs and consequences. Lee stated that the party will need to work even harder to build consensus and create the political space for the future of Singapore during a turbulent and uncertain future.
Similarly, Workers' Party (WP) also held a biennial CEC election on 27 December at Clarke Quay instead of the headquarters at Geylang. Party chairman Sylvia Lim and Secretary-General Pritam Singh were re-elected in their respective posts, so were elected MPsFaisal Manap,Gerald Giam,Leon Perera,Dennis Tanand former MPs Low Thia Khiang and Png Eng Huat. All four Sengkang GRC MPs as well asNicole Seahand Kenneth Foo were included in the list, replacing outgoing CEC members Firuz Khan, Dylan Foo, Terrence Tan and John Yam, as well as former MPsChen Show Mao,Daniel GohandLee Li Lian.
Singh mentioned it was important for the party to retain some of its most experienced members like Low, who has been with the party since the early 1980s, especially the need of a younger cohort. Lim told on the media on her re-election that the party would continue to be mentored by the older cohort while entering a phase of renewal and growth for the next generation of leaders.
On 22 December, Jose Raymond stepped down as the chairman for theSingapore People's Partyand retires from politics, so was the Assistant Secretary-General, Ariffin Sha, who also resigned from the party earlier in August.These resignations were accepted on 17 January 2021, and co-opted two new members, Osman Suliaman from the Reform Party, and Melvyn Chiu from the defunct Singaporeans First. The party's vice-chairman Williiamson Lee served as acting chairman, but no replacement was filled for the Assistant Secretary-General post and was left vacant.
On 28 March 2021,Progress Singapore Partyheld its CEC election with 11 members stepping down and 6 new members elected.On 1 April, Francis Yuen took over as Secretary-General of the Party with Tan Cheng Bock being chairperson.
On 5 August,Reform Party(RP) was the first to held a CEC renewal after the elections ended. RP's secretary-generalKenneth Jeyaretnamappointed Charles Yeo and Mahaboob Batcha (a businessman) as the new party's Chairman and Treasurer respectively, as part of the party's leadership renewal.
Former chairman Andy Zhu shortly posted on Facebook that he was unfairly dismissed by the party before allegations made against him by Jeyaretnam have been resolved and told that it was an "undemocratic stance". Jeyaretnam earlier had made changes to the party's payment methods without official approval, requiring all cheques for payments to be signed by the treasurer and one member from the CEC; Zhu said he had applied forPaynowand reactivated the party's online banking account, because of the need to quickly make full payment to contractors for services such as printing posters and distributing fliers, but Jeyretnam was accused on making payments to contractors using the wrong channels; he also mentioned the move was unfair and disputed Jeyaretnam's claim about the CEC's unanimous decision to suspend the duties for him and former Treasurer Noraini Yunus. However, Jeyaretnam added that the duo still have the opportunity to appeal the decision at a later time, and the post was taken down as the CEC has yet to deliberate the issues and makes a decision to appoint members of the CEC.
The seven members, including Zhu and Yunus, subsequently resigned from RP and formed a splinter party named Singapore United Party, with Zhu being the party's secretary-general. The party was registered to the gazette on 24 December.Osman Suliaman was among the members who resigned, but joined the Singapore People's Party instead.
The police arrested Lim Song Huat, a 48-year-old part-time security officer, for destroying election posters along with his accomplice Constantine Paul, 51, on 3 July, after police reports were first lodged on 1 July by both PAP and PSP.Lim faced three charges for vandalism, all for vandalizing three posters at Woodlands Street 13 reported at about 9:30 am on 3 July, while Paul was charged twice, each for vandalizing a poster at Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 and one of the PAP's team posters for Aljunied GRC. Lim was arrested by the Woodlands Police Division the following day after aclosed-circuit television(CCTV) managed to record a footage of Lim vandalizing the post.
On 4 February 2021, the court fined Lim S$1,000 for a charge of vandalism, making it the first case of such kind a person was charged. Two other similar charges were taken into consideration. Paul, who also faces charges under the Act, is expected to plead guilty on 5 April.
Under Act 78A of the Parliamentary Elections Act, it is illegal for people attempting to vandalize and destroy election posters or banners, with each charge carrying a S$1,000 fine or a year imprisonment, or both.According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Selene Yap who foresees the case, she asked for the maximum fine of S$1,000, citing difficulties on detection as the posters were placed in public areas across Singapore.
The police arrested Sirajudeen Abdul Majeed, 52, for his racist remarks received on aWhatsAppmessage group,PSP MM Ground Group. Few weeks leading to the election on 12 June, the group was used to share information pertaining the election, but Sirajudeen purportedly received an image that have information of voters of racial groups living in Marymount SMC, which he studied without verifying the data with any official sources. Elections Department revealed that the distribution was not published publicly and its polling district boundaries depict in the image were not accurate. The following day at 1:50 pm, Sirajudeen shared the image to three men and encouraging to share it, commenting "the PAP wants to make the Malay community a sub-minority. But the Malays were the original residents of Singapore." and another comment that also included foreign immigrants. One of the people receiving the message, Mohammad Azri,immediately lodged a police report, which he explained that it "create awareness of what he perceived to be a strategy". Sirajudeen was again called by the police on August for another racial indecency, this time involving a dispute against his neighbors, in return he lodged two police reports citing "criminal harassment" and calling Malay "unprofessional" in terms on entering elite forces such as theSingapore Air Force.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Ng Yiwen and Tessa Tan, throughout the investigation, mentioned that Sirajuddeen's move was "to stoke fears that the PAP Government was seeking to marginalise the Malays in the country by allowing more immigrants into the country", adding that it was posted on a critical timing and the fear-mongering could have affected the foundation of multi-racism. Sirajudeen pleaded for mercy and leniency, adding that he was his family's sole breadwinner and has a child with special needs; in return, the judges ruled that these remarks could create friction and conflict between different races in Singapore, which cannot be taken lightly in the current security climate. Court documents also ruled that it did not mention whether PSP referred to theProgress Singapore Party, which the party also contested Marymount SMC.
On 8 February 2021, the court ruled Sirajudeen guilty of a charge of ill-will and slandering racial groups that intend to harm racial feelings and was jailed for two weeks and fined S$7,000; Sirajudeen took a $5,000bailand is expected to begin his imprisonment by before 22 February. Two charges promoting enmity were currently taken in consideration.Penalties under Section 298A of thePenal Codeunder racial enmity carries a maximum three years imprisonment or a fine, or both.
Veteran journalist PN Balji suggested that voters sent a message to the PAP that a new style of politics and governance was needed. He added that newly elected Sengkang GRC MPJamus Lim's warning during the televised election debate not to give the PAP a "blank cheque" had resonated with many voters. A desire for alternative voices in parliament drove the swing to the opposition and the tactics againstRaeesah Khanhas backfired on PAP especially for younger voters in Sengkang, where more than 65% of residents are aged below 45 and less than 10% are aged above 65.He added that the PAP had no central figure in charge of its campaign and PAP's plea for a "strong mandate" to lead Singapore out of the COVID-19 crisis had failed to resonate with voters. Historically, PAP tended to do well when there was a crisis such as in the2001 election, held following theSeptember 11 attacksin the United States which led to a recession where PAP secured 75.29% of the vote. Pritam Singh's handling of WP's election campaign and his response to the police report into Raeesah Khan was praised, by moving quickly to stand by the candidate.
The election was also seen as a rebuke to the PAP's "fourth generation" (4G) leaderswhich saw their vote majorities slashed, such as the "prime minister in waiting" Heng Swee Keat narrowly retaining East Coast GRC with a marginal 53.41% and the defeat ofNg Chee Mengand his team in Sengkang GRC. In contrast, senior PAP leaders' constituencies fared better such as Jurong GRC (74.62%), Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC (64.15%) and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC (67.26%) despite seeing an anti-PAP vote swing. Speculation rose that PAP will be forced to rethink the issue of leadership transition given the lacklustre results for the 4G leaders.
Former PAP MPInderjit Singhcriticised the PAP for running personal attacks instead of focusing on the issues.He added that there was a perception that the PAP had failed to adequately address issues of contention during the last term like thereserved presidential elections,expiring Housing and Development Board (HDB) leases, population and job policies, and rising cost of living. There was also a perception that the PAP's fourth generation (4G) leaders were arrogant and elitist, a "natural aristocracy who project a 'we know best' attitude".Singh suggested that Prime Minister Lee saved the PAP from losing more votes to below 60% when he said in his lunchtime rally that he would delay handing over to the 4G until the COVID-19 crisis was over, along with Tharman Shanmugaratnam presenting the government's strategy for the next term during the final days of campaigning, adding the fact that "the GRC system is no longer an advantage for the PAP" as PAP fared better even with first-time candidates in SMCs but performing below expectations in GRCs with strong credible opposition candidates.
Finally, Inderjit Singh suggested the results for Aljunied GRC was a sign that Singaporeans have matured on the question of race where three elected WP candidates were minorities.Under the tenure of former leader Low Thia Khiang, WP established a Chinese-speaking support base. 
There were concerns citing that the fielding of more minority candidates and the failure to send a representative to the Chinese language televised election debate which may hamper WP's chances from holding Aljunied for a third term,but WP held on with a 9%-swing and expanded its support under Pritam Singh;Inderjit went on to praise WP on the quality of its selection of candidates and voters "are therefore willing to vote on the brand name" of the party instead of looking at the candidates' merits.
Other analysts said that the election showed that Singaporeans are beginning to move away from "bread and butter" issues which have been typically discussed in past election campaigns, towards topics like social inequality and government accountability. The swing against the government during a crisis was seen as "unprecedented", as Singaporeans were usually seen as "traditionally risk-averse".
Citi economist Kit Wei Zheng argued that as a result of the election among other things, due to discontent related to foreign workers (especially those white collar workers who compete with locals, such as the author, in industries such as financial services), the government could shrink this portion of the workforce which would affect both long term growth as well as property prices. He also believed it would shift the country towards more left-leaning policies.Others such as Chua Hak Bin and Associate Professor Lawrence Loh took a more nuanced view, suggesting that voters were swayed more by the quality of the opposition candidates and a shift from basic needs to social responsibilities.
Group Representation Constituencies were traditionally regarded as a PAP "fortress" in the past, butThe Straits Timespolitical analyst Linette Lai mentioned that GRCs now no longer became a "haven" but cited that the scheme is still a dilemma to win, regardless if the GRC is helmed by an anchor minister or not. In another analysis through an interview, NUS economics professor Ivan Png mentioned that PAP outperformed more in single-member constituencies than in GRCs, while another NUS political professor Bilveer Singh cited the opposition success like how WP managed to retain Aljunied GRC for two terms (nine years) up until the election. Observers noted a pattern that overstates the degree to which GRCs are now vulnerable, even to opposition parties that fielded credible teams, such as in the case for PSP's Tan and WP's Pritam contesting in West Coast GRC and Aljunied GRC respectively. Law professor Eugene Tan explained the GRCs are "not invincible" and "The PAP may well win big in GRCs, but it must not be forgotten that it has lost, and can lose big, in GRCs." Risk analyst Harrison Cheng mentioned the GRC system is meant to be difficult to lose to the oppositions though not impossible.
In a survey conducted by theInstitute of Policy Studieson 1 October, the PAP's opinion rating has dropped by 93% from the last election down to 86%, while WP came second with ratings rising from 71% to 79%, and the new PSP have ratings of 60%.
In another observation according to Analytix Labs chief data analyst Chua Chin Hon,Facebookhas become a widely used social media platform that tackles serious questions, and increasing its trend starting on April and overtaking theCOVID-19 pandemictopics, based on a 8 October's analysis report.
In a press conference on 18 July,Lawrence Wongstated while 61.2% was a "clear mandate", it was below what PAP expected at 65% of the popular vote. He acknowledged that the Workers' Party ran a good campaign with a message of more checks and balances in Parliament resonating with many voters and the PSP had strong appeal in some parts of Singapore such as their western strongholds.He attributed a fall in support amongst voters aged in the 40s and 50s, and perhaps those in their early 60s driving the swing against the government. He added that the swing against PAP was not concentrated solely amongst younger voters while acknowledging unhappiness about the PAP style of campaigning, or how race issues were discussed and also the use of POFMA against opposition candidates. Middle-aged voters, he specified, voted against PAP due to economic hardship from business disruptions, job and income losses and also professionals who were displaced and forced into jobs with lower pay. Wong concluded that it was unlikely that PAP would win more than 65% in future due to increased desire for diversity in Parliament and for checks and balances, calling it a "new reality". He added that PAP had to better understand and connect with younger voters by being "a party that is able to represent their aspirations and bond with them" and address the "real economic pain" that a substantial segment of people in their 40s and 50s are feeling, also known as the "sandwiched generation" who are looking after elderly parents and also caring for young children.
As the first election where physical rallies are not allowed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, social media, internet andmemes, and for the first time in the history of elections, Constituency Political Broadcasts have been heavily used in terms on campaigning, and thus the increase of the election expenses, where it was capped at S$4 per voter per the number of electoral division by average.An analyst company, Circus Social suggested that candidates with a higher credibility or mention during the election generally performed better, such as in the case of WP's Aljunied GRC and Sengkang GRC teams and PSP's West Coast GRC team.
In another data analysis website Meltwater, the volume for social media conversations has increased by at least fourfold compared to the previous election in 2015, with the volume peaked on polling day where it had 128,311 conversations as compared to 8,071. PAP took up nearly half of the entire conversations during the entire election period, followed by WP which garnered more than a quarter of conversations and the mostFacebookinteractions, then PSP and SDP at about 8% each. Analysis however reported that it was currently 'unclear' whether social media interactions do necessarily translate into votes, but heavily praised on the efficiency of resources and campaigning and would continue to do so in future elections.Institute of Policy Studiesresearcher and vice-chairman of Media Literacy Council Carol Soon mentioned the evolving use of technology but most features were lesser used when writing posts, and noted that the smaller parties, such as RDU and RP, were putting at a disadvantage due to a smaller supporter's base. Associate ProfessorEugene Tanemphasises that receiving viral headlines or highlights during election, such as Jamus Lim and Raeesah Khan, and thebloopermade byHeng Swee Keatduring his acceptance speech about the "East Coast plan",contributed a crucial factor on canvassing votes.
Under the rules by the Election Department, each candidate's spending limit is S$4 per voter multiplied by the total electorate in an electoral division (with no maximum spending cap), and participating candidates were required to declare their election expenses within 31 days after the election (all 192 candidates managed to declare it on 15 August), after which inspection are allowed from that date onwards until six months later on 20 February 2021. A report published on 21 August that S$9,164,967 were spent from all 192 candidates in total, more than the figure of S$7,136,943 compared from the 2015 election;among the expenditure, PAP spent the largest at S$6,972,369, followed by PSP at S$781,275, then WP with S$705,647, and SDP S$323,292. The figure also amounted to a combined S$7.82 million for election advertising (mostly through the internet), and about S$5.6 million for printed material, but other details such as the purchase of services and items were not mentioned. AnalystEugene Tanhighlighted PSP's expenditure in a statement for a new party: "the need to get the message out there in what is a very crowded opposition space in a very short time probably necessitated that sort of higher spending".