Singapore Prepares for GE2025: What Happens Next After EBRC Report?

“Following the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report on 11 March, anticipation is growing over when Singapore’s next General Election will take place.

The report outlines adjustments to the electoral map, proposing 18 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and 15 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs). Among these, six new SMCs have been created—Bukit Gombak, Jalan Kayu, Jurong Central, Queenstown, Sembawang West, and Tampines Changkat—while others, including Yuhua and Punggol West, have been absorbed into GRCs. Additionally, five new GRCs, such as Pasir Ris-Changi and Marine Parade-Braddell Heights, have been introduced. The number of elected Members of Parliament is also set to rise from 93 to 97.

With these changes in place, attention now shifts to the election timeline. A key step is the dissolution of Parliament, which can happen at any time before its five-year term expires in August 2025. Historically, Parliament has been dissolved anywhere between one month and three months after the EBRC report’s release, with the 2020 election seeing a three-month gap between the report’s publication and the issuance of the Writ of Election.

Once Parliament is dissolved, the Writ of Election is issued, marking the formal start of the election process. This document sets the Nomination Day, when candidates submit their papers. If multiple candidates contest a constituency, a notice of contested election is published, triggering the campaign period.

Campaigning typically lasts nine days, concluding with a mandatory Cooling-off Day, during which electioneering is prohibited. Polling Day follows, usually falling on a Saturday and designated as a public holiday. Voters cast their ballots between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, with overseas polling stations closing before voting ends in Singapore.

Once voting concludes, a sample count of randomly selected ballots is conducted to provide an early indication of the results. The official count then takes place at designated centres, with results compiled and announced. If overseas votes could influence the outcome, final declarations are delayed until they are counted.

Following the election, ballot papers are securely stored for six months before being destroyed to uphold voter secrecy. As Singapore awaits further announcements, the next milestone in the electoral process will be the dissolution of Parliament, setting the stage for GE2025.”