Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Elections
61J. Restricted signage zone of polling station in Singapore
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023.
A person commits an offence if —
the person publicly displays, or causes to be publicly displayed, in an electoral division any traditional election advertising during the campaign period relating to an election in the electoral division;
the person is, or is doing so on behalf of —
an individual who is a candidate at the election in the electoral division; or
a political party with one or more candidates at the election in the electoral division;
the traditional election advertising relates to the election in the electoral division;
the traditional election advertising is publicly displayed within the restricted signage zone of any ordinary polling station or special polling station established for the conduct of a poll in that election; and
the person knows or has reason to believe that where the traditional election advertising is publicly displayed is within a restricted signage zone of such a polling station.
In this section, “restricted signage zone”, for an ordinary polling station or a special polling station, means all of the following, unless otherwise provided in subsection (3):
polling station
“polling station” means any polling station established by or under the authority of the Returning Officer under section 36A for voters to cast their votes at an election, and includes any overseas polling station;
the building, or part of the building, in which the following are, or are to be, located:
any polling place of the polling station;
any polling booth or other facility for electors allotted to that polling station are to vote in accordance with this Act;
the area within 50 metres of the external edges of a building or part of a building mentioned in paragraph (a);
if a building or part of a building mentioned in paragraph (a) is located in any grounds —
the area in those grounds;
the area within 50 metres of any outer wall, fence or other structure or feature that marks the boundary of those grounds; and
if the Returning Officer or a presiding officer of that polling station has designated entrances to the grounds under section 36A(4) — the area within 50 metres of each designated entrance to those grounds.
However, “restricted signage zone” does not include premises in the zone mentioned in subsection (2)(b) or (c) that are —
used as a residence;
outside Singapore;
used by a candidate in an election in any electoral division, or by a political party, as an office; or
other premises lawfully occupied by or under an arrangement with the Returning Officer.
In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that an accused knew or had reason to believe that the content publicly displayed is traditional election advertising as described in subsection (1)(c).
election advertising
“election advertising” means any poster, banner, notice, circular, handbill, illustration, article, advertisement or other material that can reasonably be regarded as intended —(a)to promote or procure the electoral success at any election for one or more identifiable political parties, candidates or groups of candidates; or(b)to otherwise enhance the standing of any such political parties, candidates or groups of candidates with the electorate in connection with any election,and such material is election advertising even though it can reasonably be regarded as intended to achieve any other purpose as well and even though it does not expressly mention the name of any political party or candidate, but excludes any button, badge, pen, pencil, balloon and any other thing prescribed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette;
Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Subsection (1) does not apply to or in relation to —
any official sign; and
any traditional election advertising prescribed by the election advertising regulations as excluded from subsection (1).