GE2025: Parliament Dissolved by President Tharman; Polling Day on 3 May

By
Loh Huey Xin
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President Tharman Shanmugaratnam dissolved Parliament on 15 Apr 2025, officially starting the process for Singapore’s upcoming general election.

The polling day falls on 3 May 2025, as announced by the Returning Officer, Han Kok Juan,  who is the director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. He took over the role on April 1, 2024.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced that Nomination Day will be on 23 Apr 2025, marking the start of the campaigning period.

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There will be a total of nine nomination centres across Singapore. They are as listed below:

  1. Bendemeer Primary School for the electoral divisions of Queenstown, Radin Mas and Tanjong Pagar
  2. Chongfu School for Nee Soon, Sembawang and Sembawang West
  3. Deyi Secondary School for Ang Mo Kio, Jalan Kayu, Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang
  4. Jurong Pioneer JC for Bukit Gombak, Chua Chu Kang and Marsiling-Yew Tee
  5. Kong Hwa School for Jalan Besar, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights, Mountbatten and Potong Pasir
  6. Methodist Girls School for Bishan-Toa Payoh, Bukit Panjang, Holland-Bukit Timah and Marymount
  7. Nan Hua High School for Jurong Central, Jurong East-Bukit Batok, Pioneer and West Coast-Jurong West
  8. Poi Ching School for Aljunied, Hougang, Tampines and Tampines Changkat
  9. Yusof Ishak Secondary School for East Coast, Pasir Ris-Changi, Punggol and Sengkang

The last day of campaigning will fall on 1 May 2025, where the next day, 2 May 2025 will be the Cooling-off Day, giving voters time to reflect and eventually make their choices.

Under Singapore’s system, Cabinet ministers will continue in their roles despite Parliament’s dissolution, maintaining their responsibilities until the first sitting of the next Parliament.

First Election Under PM Lawrence Wong’s Leadership

This will be Singapore’s 14th general election since independence and marks the first electoral contest under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took over leadership in May last year.

As the secretary-general of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), Mr Wong will lead his fourth-generation (4G) team into an election that occurs against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty.


The PAP plans to contest all 97 seats across 33 constituencies, fielding over 30 new candidates – their largest slate of fresh faces in recent years. They will likely face challenges for all seats from opposition parties.

Election Amid Global Challenges

PM Wong has framed this election as a critical choice for Singaporeans during a period of global transition.

With tensions growing between the world’s two largest economies that could lead to a trade war, voters will need to decide which team they believe can best guide the nation through these challenges.

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Opposition parties are expected to put up a strong fight, having gained more support in recent years.

This growing support stems from voters’ desire for more political checks and balances and additional alternative voices in Parliament.

In the 2020 General Election held during the COVID-19 pandemic, the People’s Action Party (PAP) secured power with 61.23 per cent of the votes. The ruling party won 83 seats out of the 93 available in parliament.

The Workers’ Party (WP) made notable progress by capturing its second Group Representation Constituency (GRC) – Sengkang. This victory represented a swing toward the opposition.

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Following the election, WP chief Pritam Singh received formal designation as Leader of the Opposition.

Opposition Strategies and Territorial Claims for Upcoming Election

The upcoming election might see candidates from 11 political parties, including two opposition alliances. Since 2015, opposition parties have fielded candidates in all electoral seats.

The WP aims to win over 30 seats in eastern Singapore. Besides defending its Hougang single seat and nine seats in Aljunied and Sengkang GRCs, the party plans to contest five additional constituencies, including the newly created Punggol GRC.

In western Singapore, the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) will field candidates in at least five constituencies. Their top team is expected to run in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, which combines the existing West Coast GRC with portions of neighboring Jurong GRC.

During the 2020 General Election, the PSP team led by party founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock secured 48.32 per cent of votes in West Coast GRC, marking the PAP’s closest victory margin.

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Several smaller opposition parties have made overlapping territorial claims in central areas. This situation could lead to multi-cornered electoral contests unless the parties reach agreement soon.

These five GRCs could see the tightest battle in GE2025; here’s why:

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Loh Huey Xin