May 7
Voters go to their assigned polling stations to cast their votes between 8am and 8pm.
After polls close, the ballot boxes are sealed and transported to the counting centres.
After counting, the Assistant Returning Officer transmits the results to the Returning Officer at the principal counting place.
The Returning Officer compiles the results received from all counting centres in Singapore.
The Returning Officer declares the candidate or group of candidates with the greatest number of votes elected.
If a candidate or group wins by less than two per cent, his opponent can ask for a recount.
April 27 to May 5
Candidates can start campaigning after the notice of contested election is issued.
Campaigning is restricted to activities such as house-to-house visits, campaigning on vehicles and holding election rallies and meetings.
Candidates cannot advertise over television, in newspapers, magazines or periodicals, or in a public place, unless the Returning Officer authorises it.
Cooling-off day: May 6
This is new. Candidates are banned from campaigning for 24 hours on the eve of Polling Day, but party political broadcasts are allowed. It gives voters time to reflect on issues raised during the election before going to the polls.
Who is a returning officer?
Mr Yam Ah Mee is the current Returning Officer. He is also chief executive director of the People's Association.
He is responsible for the smooth and impartial conduct of the election and his duties include announcing the results after polling ends.
Do overseas votes matter?
If the overseas votes have no impact on the outcome of the election, the Returning Officer declares the candidate or group of candidates with the greatest number of votes elected.
But if the overseas votes have an impact on the outcome, the Returning Officer will announce the number of votes cast in Singapore in favour of the candidate or group of candidates.
He will then defer the declaration of the candidate or group of candidates elected until the day the overseas votes are counted.
After counting the overseas votes, the final results will be published in the government gazette.
Do I have to vote?
Voting is compulsory for all eligible citizens.
If the parliamentary election in your constituency is contested, you must vote at your assigned polling station.
What if I do not vote in an election?
You can't vote at subsequent presidential or parliamentary election. You will also be disqualified from being a candidate at any subsequent presidential or parliamentary election.
To get your name back on the register of electors, you must apply (either online via the Singapore Elections Department website or in person at the Singapore Elections Department or any community centre or community club) to the Registration Officer.
You must also explain why you did not vote.
If you don't have a valid and sufficient reason for not voting, you must pay $50 to restore your name to the register of electors.
Is my vote secret?
Yes. And after the ballot papers are counted, they are sealed in the Supreme Court vault for six months, then all the ballot papers and other election documents are destroyed.
During those six months, these documents can be retrieved only by courtorder.
The court will issue such an order only if it is satisfied that a vote has been fraudulently cast and the result of the election may be affected as a result.
To date, no such order has been issued.
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