Singapore — It has taken just over two months for the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee to release its report — among the fastest the committee has taken to date.

For the last two elections in 2006 and 2011 under Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s watch, the committee had taken about four months to produce the report.

Earlier elections under former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong had kept the formation of committee under wraps until the committee released their reports. Overall, the committee had taken between two and seven months to complete its work.

After the report is released, this is the time when the country gears up for election period, with political parties using this period to finalise and introduce their candidates. This usually done before Parliament is dissolved and writ of election is issued. For the 2011 GE, the time period between the release of report and writ is issued was about two months. This was similarly seen for the 2006 GE. In the 2001 election, it was only one day between the release of report and writ being issued.

Following the dissolving of Parliament and writ of election issued done by the President, upon the advice of the Prime Minister, the rule is for Nomination Day to take no earlier than five days and no more than one month. The Singapore’s PMs have typically kept the time frame between this and the writ of election to one week.

For Nomination Day, this counts as Day One of campaign period and the law says that Polling Day can be anything between 10 and 56 days after Nomination Day. For the 2011 GE, Cooling-Off Day, on the eve of Polling Day, was introduced, when candidates are banned from campaigning. This was instituted to give voters time to reflect and make their decision before going to the polls. The campaign period usually last for nine days.

Under the current term of Parliament, Singapore’s General Elections must be held by January 2017.

Step One: Electoral boundaries committee formed

2006 & 2011 elections – About four months for committee to complete its work

Step Two: Report is released

Parties finalised their candidates and introduced them to the public.

2006 & 2011 elections – About two months before Writ of Election is issued

Step Three: Parliament is dissolved and Writ of Election issued

This is done by the President, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

2006 & 2011 elections – One week before writ is issued and Nomination Day

Step Four: Nomination Day (Day One of Campaign Period)

By law, Polling Day is between 10 and 56 days after Nomination Day.

2006 & 2011 elections – Nine days before Polling Day; even of Polling Day is Cooling-Off Day with no campaigning allowed

Step Five: Polling Day

This is usually held on a Saturday and it is a public holiday. Polls are opened from 8am to 8pm.

(Click to Enlarge)