|SINGAPORE ELECTIONS contains a comprehensive archive of Singapore election results. Our website was launched in May 1998 on a free web hosting platform and secured its present domain name in August 2004. Information here can be useful for researchers and political observers to study election trends, acquire statistics, write articles or gain knowledge.
E-mail: sgelection [at] ymail [dot] com
Note: This is NOT the Singapore Government's official Elections Department website, which is here.
Legislative Council Elections
After the end of World War II, the British reinstated the LC that was established in 1867 and opened a limited number seats for elected legislators, with colony-appointed officials remaining in control. This exposed Singapore to elections for the first time - but only some citizens were given voting privileges. PP was the dominant political party at that time. A candidate's election deposit will be forfeited if he or she garners less than one-eighth or 12.5% of the votes cast in the constituency he or she contests.
Legislative Assembly Elections
The Rendel Constitution was introduced in 1953 to accord Singapore more self-governance. This replaced the LC with the LA, opened up more elected seats with reduced British representatives and voting rights for more local citizens. After 1955, legislators led by the Labour Front government continued to push for more autonomy. In 1958, Singapore was granted full self-government by the British, with all seats for election and compulsory voting for the 1959 GE, but LF was voted out and a PAP government took over. On 16 September 1963, Singapore, together with Sabah and Sarawak, joined the Federation of Malaysia with blessings from the British. Within two short but tumultuous years, PAP registered itself in on Peninsular soil and sent a token number of candidates to contest in the 1964 Malaysia GE, fuelling friction between the Singapore state's leaders and Malaysia's UMNO-led governing Alliance coalition.
By the time escalating differences between the local PAP government and the Federal government had reached an irreconciliable stage, the Singapore state was evicted from Malaysia to become an independent Republic on 9 August 1965. The LA was renamed Parliament. Since then, PAP continues to win every GE, each time returned power with an overwhelming majority. A Parliament term is five years and ends with dissolution and a fresh GE.
Municipal Commission Elections
Inaugurated in 1887, the MC managed crucial utilities like water, electricity, gas and administered town planning for Singapore's downtown area, with the outskirts under the Rural Districts Council. Starting out as an internal-elected entity, polls had to scrapped in 1913 owing to excessive politicking. Elections in the MC were restored, with limited seats, after World War II.
City Council Elections
On 23 September 1951, Singapore was conferred a British city and the MC changed its name to City Council. In 1957, after recommendations and reviews of three committees were passed, the CC became a fully elected body and the post of CC President was replaced by a Mayor. When PAP took power in 1959, the CC was slowly phased out as not to let it be a separate centre of power and its functions were integrated with statutory boards. In 1991, some of these functions were transferred again to town councils under the jurisdiction of elected MPs.
In 1992, the Singapore Constitution was amended to provide for a President elected by the people, whose role was to safeguard the nation's reserves and is armed with veto powers over arrests under the Internal Security Act and appointments of government officials. Before that, all four Presidents were elected by the legislature, beginning from Yusof bin Ishak, who was also the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (then Head of State) from 3 December 1959 to the time of Singapore's independence. An elected President's term is six years and the criteria candidates have to meet to even be eligible to contest is extremely stringent.