On May 18, 2025, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) launched a new public petition as part of its "Renew, Rebuild, Reignite" campaign, calling for significant reforms to Singapore’s election system. The petition proposes six key changes aimed at enhancing transparency, fairness, and participation in the political process. This move comes after SDP failed to secure any seats in the 2025 General Election, despite contesting in four constituencies.
The first reform proposed is the introduction of a minimum three-week campaign period. Currently, the campaign window can be as short as nine days. SDP argues that this does not provide voters sufficient time to evaluate candidates and policy platforms. A longer campaign period, they say, would allow for deeper public engagement and more informed decision-making.
Second, the petition calls for a mandatory six-month interval between the release of revised electoral boundaries and the dissolution of Parliament. The timing of boundary changes in previous elections, sometimes just weeks before nomination day, has raised concerns about fairness and transparency. SDP believes a clear and consistent gap would provide adequate time for political parties to adapt their strategies and ensure voters are not confused or caught off-guard by last-minute changes.
The third proposal is for equal airtime and media access for all political parties during the campaign period. SDP has long criticized the perceived imbalance in media coverage, where opposition parties receive significantly less exposure than the ruling party. The petition advocates for publicly funded, neutral platforms where all contesting parties can present their views fairly and without bias.
Fourth, SDP suggests introducing an independent election commission, separate from any government ministry, to oversee the conduct of elections. Currently, the Elections Department is under the Prime Minister’s Office. The party believes that placing election oversight in the hands of a neutral body would boost public confidence in the system and eliminate perceptions of partisanship.
Fifth, the petition calls for tighter regulations on the use of government resources and platforms during election periods. According to SDP, incumbents currently enjoy an advantage by leveraging state-linked events or government announcements during the campaign period. SDP argues that clearer boundaries must be drawn to prevent the misuse of public resources for political gain.
Finally, SDP urges a review of the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system. It proposes a gradual reduction in the size of GRCs and a return to more Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) to strengthen the link between MPs and residents. The party asserts that the current GRC system favors large parties and makes it harder for opposition candidates to gain entry into Parliament.
The petition was unveiled at SDP’s headquarters and has since been made available online. SDP Secretary-General Dr Chee Soon Juan stated that this campaign is not just about winning elections, but about building a more transparent and democratic Singapore. He emphasized that these reforms are essential for restoring public trust and creating a political environment where all voices are fairly represented.
This initiative is part of a broader post-election reflection by the party, following its defeats in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Bukit Panjang SMC, and Yuhua SMC during the 2025 General Election. Despite strong on-the-ground efforts and consistent policy proposals, SDP did not manage to secure a breakthrough.
The party has also expressed hope that other opposition parties and civil society groups will support the petition and contribute to the conversation on democratic reform. It has pledged to continue pushing for change both through institutional channels and grassroots efforts.
As Singapore looks ahead to the next electoral cycle, SDP's campaign signals a renewed focus on long-term structural change and voter empowerment. Whether this petition will lead to policy shifts remains to be seen, but it clearly marks a strategic pivot in the party’s post-election agenda.
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