Campaign budget for 2017 Presidential Election capped at S$754,982.40

SINGAPORE – Presidential hopefuls will have to cap their campaign budget at S$754,982.40 this year, based on the current number of electors in the register. 

Under the Presidential Elections Act, campaign expenses are limited to 30 cents per registered voter or S$600,000, depending on whichever is higher. Over 2.5 million voters are eligible to vote in next month’s Presidential Elections. 

As part of nomination proceedings, candidates also have to pay an election deposit of S$43,500. Payment can be made in two ways: before Nomination Day on Sept 13 at the Accountant-General’s Department at High Street, or at the Nomination Place at People’s Association before 12pm on Nomination Day.

During the 2011 Presidential Election, advertising and printing of promotional materials formed the bulk of the four candidates’ campaign expenses. 

Runner-up candidate Tan Cheng Bock, who lost by a slim margin to Dr Tony Tan, was the top spender. More than 86 per cent of his total expenditure of S$585,045.03 went to traditional publicity materials, such as posters, leaflets and namecards, as well as digital platforms such as smartphone apps, SMS and email marketing.

Incumbent President Dr Tony Tan — the next biggest spender with a budget of S$503,070 — used more than 58 per cent of his budget on magnets and caps featuring his trademark black-framed-spectacles, and almost 1.5 million leaflets mailed to every household, among other items. 

The other two candidates, Mr Tan Jee Say and Mr Tan Kin Lian, spent S$162,337 and S$70,912.16, respectively.