SINGAPORE: All 245 individuals who applied for political donation certificates ahead of the 3 May general election have received them, according to a media statement issued by the Elections Department (ELD) on 21 April 2025.
This figure matches the total number of applications submitted by the deadline on 19 April, as earlier announced by the ELD on 20 April. If all applicants proceed to submit nomination papers, there may be as many as 245 candidates contesting the 97 parliamentary seats available.
In the same statement, the ELD announced it had issued certificates from the Malay Community Committee to 42 eligible applicants.
Additionally, 37 candidates received certificates from the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee.
Such certifications are required for candidates contesting in Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), where at least one member of each team must belong to a minority community.
During the 2020 general election, the ELD received 226 political donation certificate applications.
However, only 192 candidates ultimately submitted nomination papers to contest the 93 seats available at that time.
This year’s numbers could reflect increased interest in political participation, with the potential for every parliamentary seat to be contested.
Under Singapore’s electoral regulations, political donation certificates are a prerequisite for nomination.
These are issued only after candidates submit political donation forms declaring any contributions received and affirming their legality.
The Registrar of Political Donations is expected to complete this issuance by 22 April, a day before Nomination Day on 23 April.
Candidates must also present completed nomination papers, secure a proposer, a seconder, and four assenters—all of whom must be registered voters in the relevant constituency.
As of 20 April, a total of 129 prospective candidates have submitted their election deposits, according to the ELD.
As of 6pm on 21 April, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has yet to reveal its full state of candidates for several constituencies.
These include three Single Member Constituencies (SMCs): Queenstown, Radin Mas, and Sembawang West. Candidate announcements are also pending for three GRCs: the 4-member Punggol GRC, and the 5-member East Coast and Tanjong Pagar GRCs.
With the general election scheduled for 3 May, all eyes are now on Nomination Day, which will reveal the final slate of candidates contesting in each constituency.
Observers are watching whether all 97 seats will be contested, and how both the ruling party and alternative parties position themselves across the island’s electoral landscape.
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