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Singapore’s GE2025: The Battle for 97 Seats, Electoral Boundaries Redrawn

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SINGAPORE — With the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) releasing its final report today, Singapore’s political landscape has been reshaped ahead of a general election expected as early as May 2025. The changes, driven by population growth and housing developments, set the stage for a fiercely contested poll—the first under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership. Here’s what voters need to know about the new electoral map and its implications.

NEW SMCS There are six new single-seat constituencies.

Key Boundary Changes: More GRCs, New SMCs, and Shifting Battlegrounds

  1. Expanded Parliament: The number of elected MPs will rise to 97 (from 93), spread across 18 GRCs (up by 1) and 15 SMCs (up by 1). This marks the largest parliament in Singapore’s history, reflecting a 4.3% increase in voter numbers to 2.75 million

  2. New Constituencies:

    • Punggol GRC: Carved from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Punggol West SMC, this four-member GRC becomes a hotspot with 123,557 voters, driven by new flats in Northshore Residences and Kempas Residences.

    • Pasir Ris-Changi GRC: Merges remnants of Pasir Ris-Punggol with East Coast GRC’s Loyang and Flora estates, signaling a PAP stronghold but potentially testing voter loyalty in eastern Singapore.

    • Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC: Absorbs Bukit Batok, Yuhua, and parts of Hong Kah North SMC, consolidating western voter bases amid rapid Tengah estate growth.

  3. SMC Shakeup: Six new single seats emerge, including Bukit Gombak and Queenstown, while five SMCs (e.g., MacPherson, Punggol West) are dissolved into GRCs. Analysts suggest this could dilute opposition footholds in traditionally competitive wards.

  4. Opposition-Held Wards: Boundaries for Workers’ Party (WP)-led Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC, and Hougang SMC remain largely unchanged—a move observers call a “status quo” strategy to avoid accusations of gerrymandering. However, Aljunied loses three Tampines West polling districts to Tampines GRC, potentially trimming WP’s margin

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Political Implications: Battlegrounds and Multi-Cornered Fights

  • East vs. West: The east sees consolidation with Pasir Ris-Changi and upsized East Coast GRC (absorbing Chai Chee and Siglap), while the west witnesses Jurong East-Bukit Batok and West Coast-Jurong West GRCs. These areas, with high voter growth, are prime targets for both PAP and opposition campaigns

  • Multi-Cornered Clashes: Analysts predict unprecedented three- or four-way fights in GRCs like Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, and Pasir Ris-Punggol. Smaller parties like People’s Power Party (PPP) and Red Dot United are staking claims, risking vote-splitting. As SMU law professor Eugene Tan notes, “Opposition unity talks are critical, but horse-trading post-EBRC is inevitable”
  • PAP’s Ground Game: The redrawing of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC (absorbing MacPherson SMC) and Chua Chu Kang GRC (incorporating Tengah) strengthens PAP’s reach in evolving housing estates. Meanwhile, the new Jalan Kayu SMC, carved from Ang Mo Kio GRC, may test PAP’s grassroots machinery in a historically loyal ward

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Expert Analysis: What the Numbers Say

  • Voter-to-MP Ratio: The average MP now represents 28,384 voters, a slight drop from 28,510 in 2020. Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab adjunct principal research fellow and academic adviser Tan Ern Ser believes any adjustments to the boundaries will likely be to accommodate the increase in voters, the distribution of young and new voters, as well as the emergence of new housing developments.

    “This may involve some redrawing of boundaries, rather than the creation of new wards, but I’d expect the changes to be minimal,” he added.

  • Opposition Challenges: With only 9 of 33 constituencies unchanged, smaller parties face logistical hurdles. 
  • Election Timing: Analysts like NUS’s Associate Professor Bilveer Singh predict a May poll, avoiding the June school holidays and the Shangri-La Dialogue. PM Wong’s Facebook post today emphasised the next step—certifying voter registers—hinting at a writ of election in April

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“The EBRC’s work ensures our electoral system remains representative. The next milestone is updating voter registers before elections are called”
PM Lawrence Wong
PM Lawrence Wong

Voter Preparedness and Logistical Hurdles

The ELD has urged voters to verify their polling stations, as updated registers may not reflect recent address changes if the election is called early. “If an election is called before the Registers are updated, you will be allocated to vote at a polling station in the electoral division you were previously registered in,” stated the ELD in a recent FAQ. This could lead to confusion in newly redrawn areas, potentially affecting turnout.

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Historical Context and the Road Ahead

Singapore’s elections have long been criticized for structural advantages favoring the PAP, including GRCs designed to ensure minority representation but often accused of stifling opposition growth. However, GE2025 could mark a turning point. The PAP’s vote share dipped to 61.2% in 2020, its lowest in decades, amid growing demands for checks on power. With boundary changes amplifying uncertainty, this election may redefine Singapore’s political equilibrium.

As the nation braces for the ballot, one thing is clear: GE2025 will test not just the PAP’s resilience but the electorate’s appetite for change.

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