Singapore is set to hold its general election on May 3, marking a crucial moment as the nation navigates economic challenges and shifts in long-standing party preferences.
This will be the first major electoral test for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office in 2024 following the retirement of Lee Hsien Loong. Wong is a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP), Singapore’s long-ruling political party that has governed the country since its independence in 1965. Known for its strict governance and emphasis on economic growth and social stability, the PAP has been central to shaping modern Singapore.
With 2.76 million registered voters, the outcome of this election could significantly reshape the country’s political landscape. All 97 parliamentary seats across 33 constituencies are up for contest. While the PAP currently remains the frontrunner, its share of the popular vote has steadily declined from 70% in 2015 to 61% in 2020, according to Reuters.
The Workers’ Party, the main opposition, currently holds 10 seats and advocates for a more balanced political system. Other parties, such as the Progress Singapore Party and the Singapore Democratic Party, are also vying to increase their parliamentary representation.
Key issues influencing voters include rising living costs, housing affordability, and employment stability. A January 2025 study by Blackbox Research found that the cost of living is of heightened concern for Singaporeans. Additionally, recent electoral boundary changes have introduced six new single-member constituencies and adjusted several group representation constituencies, potentially impacting electoral dynamics.
Candidates have increasingly turned to social media to connect with younger voters. One viral example is Samuel Lee, leader of the small People’s Power Party, who has gained attention for his poor singing performance in campaign videos posted to social media. While some find these performances charming, analysts argue that more authentic communication is what voters really want. “Just speaking like a normal human being would make them appear far more relatable,” said political scientist Walid Jumblatt Abdullah of Nanyang Technological University.
The election is also taking place under new regulations designed to reduce foreign interference. Authorities have ordered the removal of social media posts by several foreign individuals such as Iskandar Abdul Samad, a Malaysian political figure, and Zulfikar bin Mohamad Shariff, a former Singaporean citizen now in Australia—whose online content was judged by Meta to be bad-faith attempts to influence voters to cast their ballots based on racial or religious sentiments.
