Singapore legislation

Section 78B

of Parliamentary Elections Act 1954

Section 78B

Election advertising ban

(1)

Except as otherwise provided by or under subsection (2), a person must not, at any time on polling day or the eve of polling day at an election in an electoral division —

(a)

knowingly publish, or knowingly cause or permit to be published, any election advertising in or among any electors in the electoral division; or

(b)

knowingly display, or knowingly cause or permit to be displayed, any election advertising on any vehicle, thing or structure within the electoral division or adjoining the electoral division.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not apply to —

(a)

the distribution of a book, or the promotion of the sale of a book, for not less than its commercial value, if the book was planned to be published regardless of whether there was to be an election;

(b)

the publication of any news relating to an election —

(i)

in a newspaper in any medium by a person permitted to do so under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act 1974; or

(ii)

in a radio or television broadcast by a person licensed to do so under the Broadcasting Act 1994;

(c)

the telephonic or electronic transmission by an individual to another individual of the firstmentioned individual’s own political views, on a non‑commercial basis;

(d)

any election advertising that was lawfully published or displayed before the start of the eve of polling day at any election on what is commonly known as the Internet and that was not changed after its publication or display;

(e)

the continued lawful display or posting of posters or banners that have been displayed or posted before the start of the eve of polling day at any election; and

(f)

such activities or circumstances as the Minister may prescribe.

(3)

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a District Court to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

(4)

Every offence under subsection (3) is an arrestable offence within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.

Section 78B — Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 | laws.sg