(Reuters) – Singapore holds a general election on May 3. Here are some key figures about this edition of the five-yearly contest.
* 97 parliamentary seats are being decided, 5 of which havealready gone to the ruling People’s Action Party because it isrunning unopposed in one multi-member constituency. It is thefirst walkover in 14 years * 2.76 million of Singapore’s 6 million population areeligible to vote, an increase of nearly 49,000 since the 2023presidential election * 211 candidates are taking part altogether, 46% of whichare representing the PAP * 11 parties are running in the election, but only the PAPis contesting all 97 seats. Its biggest rival, the Workers’Party, is competing for only 26 seats, with candidates in only aquarter of the races. Only six parties are contesting more than10 seats * There are 33 constituencies, 17 of which are multi-memberand 15 single-member and only 5 constituencies will be contestedby more than 2 parties. * 9 is the number of campaigning days in this year’selection, which was only called on April 15. * 13 is the number of general elections won by the rulingparty * 1965 is the year when the PAP’s unbroken rule began, afterSingapore became an independent nation * 94.2 is the average percentage turnout in parliamentaryelections since 2001 in Singapore, where voting iscompulsory(Sources: Elections Department Singapore,International Foundation for Electoral Systems)
(Compiled by Martin Petty; Editing by Michael Perry)
