SINGAPORE: A critical development has unfolded as the Elections Department (ELD) announced the formation of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) on January 22. This marks a pivotal step as Singapore gears up for its next general election, required to be held by November.

The EBRC, established by the Prime Minister, plays an essential role in revamping Singapore’s electoral landscape, meticulously taking into account population dynamics and housing projects to ensure electoral divisions are equitable. The committee's mandate includes recommending the composition and size of both Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and Single Member Constituencies (SMCs).

The ELD highlighted that the EBRC should strive to maintain a balance similar to previous elections, specifically concerning the size of GRCs and the ratio of voters to elected Members of Parliament (MPs). As Singapore approaches its 14th general election since gaining independence, this election will precede under the stewardship of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, representing the new generation of leadership.

From February, citizens will have the opportunity to inspect voter rolls, with updates needed before April 1. The ELD will soon share detailed procedures on how voters can check their registration status.

A Countdown to the General Election

Past trends reveal an exciting timeline. Between the establishment of past EBRCs and election days, the timespan varied drastically—from just three months to nearly eleven months. Notably, the last committee session took place in August 2019 before the general election in July 2020, which took place amidst the global pandemic.

With the recent formation of the EBRC, a series of systematic events is set into motion leading to the polls. Here’s the expected timeline of upcoming activities:

1. EBRC Formation: Completed.

2. EBRC Report Release: Detailing modifications to the electoral map, with past committees taking anywhere from three weeks to over seven months to finalize reports.

3. Dissolution of Parliament: Following the EBRC's report, the President will dissolve Parliament on the Prime Minister's advice. Elections must ensue within three months.

4. Issuing of Writ of Election: This commonly follows Parliament’s dissolution, with variances in timing from as little as one day to over three months.

5. Nomination Day: Candidates will register, marking the official campaign launch, which typically spans nine days.

6. Cooling-off Day: Enforced to ensure voters can calmly consider their decisions without disturbances the day before polling.

7. Polling Day: Voters will cast their ballots, with innovations from the last election, such as extended voting hours for convenience.

Looking Into 2024 Electoral Trends

The groundwork for the upcoming elections has been laid over the past year. In March 2023, the ELD announced the recruitment and ongoing training of about 50,000 public officers to facilitate smooth election activities. Political analysts noted a significant speech by former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in May, which highlighted the achievements of the ruling party and signaled an election campaign.

Under PM Wong’s directive, the ELD was instructed to update electors' registers by July. Recently, adjustments were made to polling district boundaries in twelve constituencies, with updated voter rolls revealing over 2.7 million Singaporeans eligible to vote.

As we approach the next election, the electoral landscape is shaping up to be highly competitive, with potential fluctuations in the number of MPs anticipated due to population demographics. Stay tuned for developments as Singapore steps into a new chapter of governance in the upcoming general election!