Constituencies of Singapore
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Constituencies in Singapore are electoral divisions which may be represented by single or multiple seats in the
Group Representation Constituencies
Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) are a type of electoral constituency unique to
In 1988, the ruling
GRCs operate with a
The official justification for GRCs is to allow minority representation. Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong argued that the introduction of GRCs was necessary to ensure that Singapore's Parliament would continue to be multiracial in its composition and representation.[3] Opposition parties have criticised GRCs as making it even more difficult for non-PAP candidates to be elected to Parliament. The money required to contest a GRC is considerable as each candidate is required to pay a deposit ranging from S$4,000 to S$16,000 (the recent election is S$13,500).[1] This means that contesting a GRC is very costly for opposition parties. The presence of Cabinet Ministers in GRCs is often believed to give the PAP a considerable advantage in the contesting of a GRC. The PAP has used this tactic to its advantage on several occasions. Rather than stand in an uncontested GRC, in 1997, then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong shifted his attention to campaigning for candidates where the PAP believed they were most vulnerable, which was the Cheng San GRC.[4] The opposition has charged the government with gerrymandering due to the changing of GRC boundaries at very short notice (see below section on electoral boundaries).
Critics have noted that
Boundaries and gerrymandering allegations
The boundaries of electoral constituencies in Singapore are decided by the Elections Department, which is under the control of the Prime Minister's Office.[5] Electoral boundaries are generally announced close to elections, usually a few days before the election itself is announced.[5][6] There have been accusations of gerrymandering regarding the redrawing of electoral boundaries and the dissolving of constituencies that return a high percentage of votes for parties other than the ruling PAP.[7]
One of the cases that is often cited as evidence for gerrymandering in Singapore is the case of the Cheng San Group Representation Constituency (GRC). In the
Current Electoral Map (2020–present)
As of the revision of the electorates on 15 April 2020, the number of electors in the latest Registers of Electors is 2,653,942.
Group Representation Constituencies
Constituency | Seats | Minority representation | Electorate | Polling Districts[8] | Wards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Malay & Indian | 150,303 | 51 | Bedok Reservoir–Punggol |
Eunos | |||||
Kaki Bukit | |||||
Paya Lebar | |||||
Serangoon | |||||
Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Indian or other | 180,186 | 59 | Ang Mo Kio–Hougang |
Cheng San–Selatar | |||||
Jalan Kayu | |||||
Fernvale | |||||
Teck Ghee | |||||
Bishan–Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency | 4 | Malay | 100,036 | 34 | Bishan East–Sin Ming |
Toa Payoh Central | |||||
Toa Payoh East | |||||
Toa Payoh West–Thomson | |||||
Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency | 4 | Malay | 103,231 | 34 | Brickland |
Bukit Gombak | |||||
Chua Chu Kang | |||||
Keat Hong | |||||
East Coast Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Malay | 120,239 | 41 | Bedok |
Changi–Simei | |||||
Fengshan | |||||
Kampong Chai Chee | |||||
Siglap | |||||
Holland–Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency | 4 | Indian | 112,999 | 38 | Bukit Timah |
Cashew | |||||
Ulu Pandan | |||||
Zhenghua | |||||
Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency | 4 | Malay | 106,578 | 42 | Kampong Glam |
Kolam Ayer | |||||
Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng | |||||
Whampoa | |||||
Jurong Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Indian & Malay | 129,933 | 45 | Bukit Batok East |
Clementi | |||||
Jurong Central | |||||
Jurong Spring | |||||
Taman Jurong | |||||
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Malay | 137,906 | 47 | Braddell Heights |
Geylang Serai | |||||
Kembangan–Chai Chee | |||||
Marine Parade | |||||
Joo Chiat | |||||
Marsiling–Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency | 4 | Malay | 114,243 | 40 | Limbang |
Marsiling | |||||
Woodgrove | |||||
Yew Tee | |||||
Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Indian & Malay | 137,906 | 45 | Chong Pang |
Nee Soon Central | |||||
Nee Soon East | |||||
Nee Soon Link | |||||
Nee Soon South | |||||
Pasir Ris–Punggol Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Malay & Indian | 161,952 | 55 | Pasir Ris West |
Pasir Ris Central | |||||
Pasir Ris East | |||||
Punggol Coast | |||||
Punggol Shore | |||||
Sembawang Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Malay & Indian | 139,724 | 47 | Admiralty |
Canberra | |||||
Sembawang Central | |||||
Sembawang West | |||||
Woodlands | |||||
Sengkang Group Representation Constituency | 4 | Malay | 117,546 | 38 | Anchorvale (WP) / Sengkang West (PAP) |
Buangkok (WP) / Sengkang Central (PAP) | |||||
Compassvale (WP) / Sengkang North (PAP) | |||||
Rivervale (WP) / Sengkang East (PAP) | |||||
Tampines Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Malay | 147,249 | 51 | Tampines Central |
Tampines Changkat | |||||
Tampines East | |||||
Tampines North | |||||
Tampines West | |||||
Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Indian | 132,598 | 49 | Buona Vista |
Henderson–Dawson | |||||
Moulmein–Cairnhill | |||||
Queenstown | |||||
Tanjong Pagar–Tiong Bahru | |||||
West Coast Group Representation Constituency | 5 | Indian | 144,516 | 50 | Ayer Rajah–Gek Poh |
Boon Lay | |||||
Nanyang | |||||
Telok Blangah | |||||
West Coast |
Single Member Constituencies
Constituency | Seats | Electorate | Polling Districts[8] |
---|---|---|---|
Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency | 1 | 29,389 | 10 |
Bukit Panjang Single Member Constituency | 1 | 35,258 | 12 |
Hong Kah North Single Member Constituency | 1 | 23,519 | 8 |
Hougang Single Member Constituency | 1 | 25,629 | 9 |
Kebun Baru Single Member Constituency | 1 | 22,413 | 7 |
MacPherson Single Member Constituency | 1 | 27,652 | 10 |
Marymount Single Member Constituency | 1 | 23,439 | 7 |
Mountbatten Single Member Constituency | 1 | 23,957 | 8 |
Pioneer Single Member Constituency | 1 | 24,679 | 9 |
Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency | 1 | 18,551 | 6 |
Punggol West Single Member Constituency | 1 | 25,440 | 6 |
Radin Mas Single Member Constituency | 1 | 25,167 | 10 |
Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency | 1 | 26,046 | 9 |
Yuhua Single Member Constituency | 1 | 21,188 | 8 |
See also
- Past Singaporean electoral divisions
- General elections in Singapore
References
- ^ a b c Hussin Mutalib, 'Constituational-Electoral Reforms and Politics in Singapore', Legislative Studies Quarterly 21 (2) (2002), p. 665.
- ^ Now the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 218, 2011 Rev. Ed.)
- ^ Hussin Mutalib, 'Constituational-Electoral Reforms and Politics in Singapore', Legislative Studies Quarterly 21 (2) (2002), p. 664.
- ^ Hussin Mutalib, 'Constituational-Electoral Reforms and Politics in Singapore', Legislative Studies Quarterly 21 (2) (2002), p. 666.
- ^ a b Alex Au Waipang, 'The Ardour of Tokens: Opposition Parties' Struggle to Make a Difference', in T.Chong (eds), Management of Success: Singapore Revisited (Singapore, 2010), p. 106.
- ^ Diane K. Mauzy and R.S. Milne, Singapore Under the People's Action Party (London, 2002), p.143.
- ^ a b Bilveer Singh, Politics and Governance in Singapore: An Introduction (Singapore, 2007), p. 172.
- ^ a b "The Report of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, 2020" (PDF). Elections Department Singapore.