Elections Explained for Kids as Singapore Goes to the Polls

With Polling Day on May 3, it is a good opportunity for parents to discuss the general election with their children and explain its impact on Singapore

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ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES DECIDED When a general election is due to be held, the Prime Minister looks to the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, and it swings into action.

The committee will study any changes in Singapore's population and housing developments so that it can recommend how the electoral boundaries should be adjusted.

These boundaries refer to the way that Singapore will be divided into segments for the election. The review helps ensure that each segment, known as an electoral division, is accurately represented based on its population.

Each one will be represented by Members of Parliament (MPs) through Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) or Single Member Constituencies (SMCs).

SMCs are represented by just one MP. GRCs, which cover a larger area, are represented by a team of MPs. Each team must include at least one person from a minority community.

The release of the committee's report is one of the clearest signs that an election is around the corner.

PARLIAMENT IS DISSOLVED The President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, will dissolve Parliament. An election must take place within three months of Parliament being dissolved.

The President will then issue a Writ of Election, a legal document that kicks off the election process. It includes important details, such as the date of Nomination Day and the name of the returning officer (RO).

The RO is a civil servant appointed by the Prime Minister to oversee the impartial and smooth conduct of the election.

By law, Nomination Day must be held at least five days, or at most one month, after the date of the Writ.

For this election, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam dissolved Parliament on April 15.

NOMINATION DAY In 2025, Nomination Day was on April 23. This was when each political party revealed its final line-up of candidates.