11 election terms you should know before casting your vote in GE2025
So you don't get confused.
With General Election 2025 (GE2025) taking place on May 3, first-time voters - and even seasoned ones - might be hearing some familiar terms for the first time in years. And some may still leave you scratching your head.
SMCs, GRCs - what do these ABCs stand for? (Spoiler: they're not the name of a new K-pop group.)
Whether you're new to voting or just need a quick refresher, here's a handy cheat sheet to get you up to speed before you head to the polls.
1. Constituency
This is the area in Singapore where you (and your neighbours) live and vote. Each constituency is represented by one or more Members of Parliament (MPs).
2. Register of Electors
The list of all qualified voters belonging to that constituency.
There is one register for each electoral division. In other words, if your name's on it, you can vote.
3. Single Member Constituency (SMC)
An SMC will return a single MP in an election. This MP will represent residents in the electoral division.
4. Group Representation Constituency (GRC)
A GRC is one where teams of three to six candidates contest in a Parliamentary election.
The number of candidates in each team depends on how many MPs are designated to be elected from that GRC.
Each team must include at least one member from the Malay, Indian, or other minority communities.
5. Independent
A candidate who is not running for any political party. They're going solo.
6. Nomination
The process that a person or a group must successfully undergo to become a candidate in an election. It occurs during Nomination Day, the start of a nine-day campaigning period for candidates.
7. Poll Card
An invitation to vote, which will state your assigned polling station and voter serial number. It is not the ballot paper.
The physical copy will be mailed to your residential address about two to three days after Nomination Day. You can also use the Singpass mobile app to access your ePoll card.
8. Polling Station
The place where voters go to cast their votes on Polling Day, which is a public holiday.
It is usually situated at a school, a void deck in a public housing estate or a community centre/club.
Overseas polling stations are situated in designated Singapore High Commissions, Embassies or Consulates.
9. Walkover
This occurs when only one candidate or group of candidates is successfully nominated.
With no contest in the electoral division, no poll will be held, and the candidate or team will be declared elected as MP(s).
10. Nominated MP (NMP)
NMPs are appointed by the President of Singapore for a term of 2.5 years, based on the recommendation of a Special Select Committee chaired by the Speaker of Parliament.
They provide independent, non-partisan perspectives during debates. The Constitution allows for up to nine NMPs to be appointed.
11. Non-Constituency MP (NCMP)
NCMPs are opposition candidates who were not elected but received the highest percentage of votes among the unelected opposition. Under the Constitution, up to 12 NCMPs may be appointed.
Read all you need to know about voting for the first time here.