Singapore: Over 2.75 million registered Singaporean voters are heading to the polls today for the 19th General Election (GE2025), in a high-stakes vote that could shape the city-state’s political and economic direction.
Voting commenced at 8 a.m. at 1,240 polling stations across the island and will continue until 8 p.m., with final results expected late Saturday night.
The election comes nearly a year after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong assumed office, and he is now seeking a renewed mandate for the long-ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore since its independence in 1965.
The stakes are particularly high this year, with the Southeast Asian financial hub caught in the crossfire of escalating US-China trade tensions. The United States, Singapore’s largest trading partner, recently introduced new tariffs that could impact the island’s trade-dependent economy.
A total of 92 out of 97 parliamentary seats are being contested, with 211 candidates from 11 political parties and two independents competing across 32 constituencies. The remaining five seats were won uncontested by the PAP in the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC) on nomination day, April 23.
Economic concerns dominate the political discourse. Voters are voicing anxiety over the rising cost of living, escalating housing prices, and the increase in foreign workers. Singapore’s population, now at 6.04 million as of June 2024, has grown by 2 percent, largely due to an uptick in the non-resident segment, according to official figures.
Multinational corporations and regional investors are closely monitoring the election results, as many use Singapore as a strategic gateway to access Asian markets.
The PAP, contesting in all constituencies, faces stiff competition from a more vocal and organized opposition. The Workers’ Party (WP) is fielding 26 candidates in eight constituencies, while the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has put forward 13 candidates in six constituencies.
Other parties participating include the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Singapore People’s Party (SPP), Red Dot United (RDU), National Solidarity Party (NSP), People’s Power Party (PPP), People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), Singapore United Party (SUP), and the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA). Two independent candidates are also in the race.
More than 18,000 overseas Singaporeans have already begun voting at designated missions in cities including Dubai, London, Washington, New York, and San Francisco.
