Political parties can apply for rally sites from Nomination Day
Lim Min Zhang for The Straits Times
Election rallies will make a comeback in 2025, with political parties able to start applying for sites from Nomination Day on April 23.
Candidates must obtain a police permit to hold rallies, with a ballot to take place if there is more than one application for a given timeslot.
On April 16, the police gave details on the use of election rally sites, assembly centres for supporters to await the election results, and vehicles for broadcasting campaign messages.
Singapore is headed for its 14th election since independence, with Polling Day set for May 3. The ruling PAP is set to be challenged in all 97 seats up for contest, across 33 constituencies.
Rallies at stadiums and open fields - last seen in GE2015 - will make a return during the campaign period. In GE2020, which was held during the Covid-19 pandemic, physical rallies were prohibited.
The police said candidates may hold such election meetings only at designated sites due to safety and security concerns.
The list of sites will be released after the nomination proceedings end, as was the case in GE2011 and GE2015. There were 41 designated rally sites in 2011 and 46 in 2015.
Rental rates for stadiums start from $1,647. Open fields will cost at least $109.
Applications for election meetings to be held on April 24 - the day after Nomination Day - must be submitted by 4pm the day before. For the rest of the nine-day campaign period, applications must be submitted by 2.30pm the day before.
People will not be allowed to fly drones, kites and balloons over outdoor rally sites, from one hour before the rally begins until one hour after it ends.
The police also gave details on how candidates and their election agents can apply to use assembly centres, where they can gather with supporters to await the announcement of election results on May 3.
The earliest that candidates can apply for their use is Nomination Day. The list of centres allocated to contesting parties and candidates will be announced on Cooling-off Day on May 2, after permit applications close.
Permits must also be applied for vehicles that broadcast pre-recorded messages during the campaign. Such vehicles can be used from one day after Nomination Day.
From Nomination Day, exemptions for public assemblies and processions at the Speakers' Corner will be temporarily revoked. This means that no public assembly or procession may be held at the open space at Hong Lim Park without a police permit.
These exemptions will be reinstated after the election period.
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