Nomination Day for the Presidential Election 2023 will be held on 22 August 2023. The following set out the procedures for candidates and their election agents to apply for Police permits to hold election meetings and use perambulating vehicles, as well as details on the revocation of exemptions at Speakers’ Corner and the establishment of ‘no-fly’ zones during this period.
Rallies, by their nature and format, may be divisive and not congruent with the unifying role of the Elected Presidency. Hence, they are not encouraged and there will be no designated rally sites for the Presidential Election.
Candidates who wish nevertheless to hold election meetings (i.e., rallies or gatherings at assembly centres) must first secure the rental of the venue and seek approval from the premise owner(s). Due to safety and security considerations, it is preferable that such election meetings, if any, be held at sports stadiums or indoor venues.
Candidates must then apply for a permit from the Police. Based on Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2009, if a candidate or his election agent applies for an election meeting permit, the Commissioner of Police will assess the application based on security and public order considerations.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to make their applications for election meeting permits online via the Singapore Police Force website at www.police.gov.sg/e-services. Alternatively, applications can also be made in person by the candidate or his election agent at the Police Elections Permit Office (“PEPO”), located at Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road, Singapore 088762.
The earliest day an election meeting can be held is two days after Nomination Day. Applications for election meetings to be held on this day (two days after Nomination Day) must be submitted by 4.00pm on Nomination Day. Applications for election meetings to be held on other campaigning days must be submitted by 11.00am at least two days before the intended election meeting. For example, if the election meeting is planned for Thursday, the candidate or his election agent must apply for a permit latest by 11.00am on Tuesday that same week.
Candidates or election agents who wish to apply for a permit in-person at PEPO, may do so during PEPO’s operating hours. PEPO will operate from Nomination Day to Cooling-Off Day, from 8.30am to 6.00pm daily on all days during the campaigning period including weekends, except on Nomination Day, when it will operate only from 2.00pm. to 6.00pm. Candidates and election agents may call PEPO at 1800-220-3370 during its operating hours, for permit-related enquiries.
Upon receipt of a permit application, whether online or in-person at PEPO, a Police Election Meeting Liaison Officer (“EMLO”) may contact the permit applicant to seek clarifications on the application before coming to a decision on whether the election meeting may be allowed to proceed.
PERAMBULATING VEHICLES
Candidates must apply for a perambulating vehicle permit from the Police before they can broadcast pre-recorded election messages from a vehicle (whether mechanically propelled or otherwise) during the campaigning period. For this Presidential Election, perambulating vehicles may be used from 24 August 2023 to 30 August 2023 between 7.00am and 10.00pm.
Applications for the use of perambulating vehicles may be made online via the Singapore Police Force website at www.police.gov.sg/e-services, at least two days before the intended commencement date of the use of perambulating vehicle(s).
The earliest day for the use of perambulating vehicles is two days after Nomination Day. The applications for use of perambulating vehicles on this day (two days after Nomination Day) must be submitted by 4.00pm on Nomination Day. Applications for the use of perambulating vehicles on all other campaigning days must be submitted by 11.00am, at least two days before the intended use. For example, if the perambulating vehicle is planned for use on Thursday, the candidate or his election agent should apply for a permit latest by 11.00am on Tuesday that same week. Applicants may use perambulating vehicle(s) for the period from two days after Nomination Day, until the eve of Cooling-Off Day.
TEMPORARY REVOCATION OF EXEMPTIONS AT SPEAKERS’ CORNER
From Nomination Day on 22 August 2023 until Polling Day on 1 September 2023 of the Presidential Election, the exemptions for public assemblies and public processions within Speakers’ Corner will be temporarily revoked. The relevant exemptions for public assemblies and public processions within Speakers’ Corner will be reinstated after Polling Day.
The temporary revocation ensures that the permit regime for election meetings and election processions during the Presidential Election, under the Public Order (Election Meetings and Processions in Presidential Elections) Regulations 2017, also apply to the Speakers’ Corner.
During the stated period when the exemptions are temporarily revoked, no public assembly or public procession may be held at Speaker’s Corner without a Police permit under the Public Order Act 2009. A public entertainment licence under the Public Entertainments Act 1958 will also be required for the provision of public entertainment at the location during the stated period.
‘NO-FLY’ ZONES FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
All outdoor election meetings (i.e., rallies or gatherings at assembly centres) will be within designated ‘no-fly’ zones. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (“CAAS”) will establish a Temporary Restricted Area (“TRA”) over the locations used for outdoor election meetings, if they do not fall within an existing ‘no-fly’ zone. CAAS will release further details on the TRA in due course.
The flying of unmanned aircrafts (“UA”) and conduct of other aerial activities (such as kite-flying and hoisting of captive balloons) are prohibited within and into the ‘no-fly’ zones, unless authorised by the CAAS. The unauthorised conduct of UA and aerial activities within and into the ‘no-fly’ zones is an offence under the Air Navigation (101 – Unmanned Aircraft Operations) Regulations 2019 (ANR-101) and Air Navigation Order respectively. The penalty upon conviction for the offence under the ANR-101 is a fine of up to $50,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both, for the first offence, and a fine of up to $100,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, for the second or subsequent offence. The penalty upon conviction for the offence under the ANO is a fine of up to $20,000 for the first offence, and a fine of up to $40,000 or imprisonment of up to 15 months, or both, for the second or subsequent offence.
Regardless of whether the election meeting is held at indoor or outdoor venues, UAs shall not be operated at all election meetings. The Police will be deployed at election meetings to maintain order and to conduct enforcement activities.
QUERIES ON OTHER ELECTION-RELATED MATTERS
For other election-related matters, Elections Department officers can be contacted at 1800-225-5353.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
12 August 2023 @ 1:40 PM