General elections were held in Singapore on 7 May 2011 to elect members of Parliament. They were the thirteenth general elections since the introduction of self-government in 1959 and the eleventh since independence in 1965. President S.R. Nathan dissolved parliament on 19 April on the advice of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong three weeks before the election. The number of elected seats was increased from 84 to 87 from the previous election. This was the second election contested by Lee as prime minister.
The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) achieved a landslide victory in the election, retaining its supermajority. Nevertheless, the election saw historic gains for the opposition in Singapore's political landscape. For the second consecutive election, the PAP did not return to government on nomination day. It also marked the first and only three-cornered contest since 2001, which was held at Punggol East Single Member Constituency (SMC). Described as a "watershed" election, it saw the highest proportion of contested seats since independence, excluding the five seats in Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC). This election also marked Lee Kuan Yew's final election before his death in 2015.
Key issues in the election included immigration, the cost of living and housing. The PAP's share of the popular vote fell further to 60.14 percent, its lowest since independence. The Workers' Party (WP) won Aljunied GRC, securing five additional elected MPs and making history as the first opposition party to capture a GRC since the scheme's introduction in 1988. Three non-constituency seats (NCMPs) were also awarded, one to the Singapore People's Party (SPP) and two to the WP, bringing the total number of opposition MPs to nine. The electorate surpassed two million for the first time, making the 2011 general election the most actively contested in Singapore's history at the time since its first post-independence election in 1968.
Infobox
Registered
2,350,873[a]
Turnout
93.18% ( 0.82pp)
Leader
Lee Hsien Loong
Party
PAP
Leader's seat
Ang Mo Kio GRC
Last election
66.60%, 82 seats
Seats won
81
Seat change
1
Popular vote
1,212,154
Percentage
60.14%
Swing
6.46pp
Tables
· Background › Political parties
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Ranked list
Party
Leader
Votes in GE2006
Seats won
Remarks
People's Action Party
Lee Hsien Loong
mw- .mw- 66.60%
82 / 84
80 seats at time of dissolution.
Workers' Party
Low Thia Khiang
16.34%
1 / 84
Including one Non-constituency Member of Parliament.
Singapore Democratic Alliance
Desmond Lim
12.96%
1 / 84
Alliance with Singapore Justice Party and Singapore Malay National Organisation parties.
National Solidarity Party
Goh Meng Seng
Withdrew from the alliance in 2007.
Singapore People's Party
Chiam See Tong
Withdrew from the alliance in 2010.
Singapore Democratic Party
John Tan
4.83%
0 / 84
Chee did not stand for the election.
Reform Party
Kenneth Jeyaretnam
Did not exist
· Background › Electoral divisions
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World heat map
Seats
Seats
Col 1
Seats
Col 2
84
2006
87
Electoral divisions
Electoral divisions
Col 1
Electoral divisions
Col 2
23
2006
27
GroupRepresentationconstituencies
GroupRepresentationconstituencies
Col 1
GroupRepresentationconstituencies
Col 2
Total GRCs
2006
14
2011
15
Four-Member GRCs
Four-Member GRCs
Col 1
Four-Member GRCs
Col 2
0
2006
2
Five-Member GRCs
Five-Member GRCs
Col 1
Five-Member GRCs
Col 2
9
2006
11
Six-Member GRCs
Six-Member GRCs
Col 1
Six-Member GRCs
Col 2
5
2006
2
Average GRC size
Average GRC size
Col 1
Average GRC size
Col 2
5.36
2006
5.00
Single member constituencies
Single member constituencies
Col 1
Single member constituencies
Col 2
9
2006
12
Voters
Voters
Col 1
Voters
Col 2
2,158,704
2006
2,347,198
Voters (overseas votes inclusive)
Voters (overseas votes inclusive)
Col 1
Voters (overseas votes inclusive)
Col 2
2,159,721
2006
2,350,873
Ranked list
2006
2011
Seats
84
87
Electoral divisions
23
27
GroupRepresentationconstituencies
Total GRCs
14
15
Four-Member GRCs
0
2
Five-Member GRCs
9
11
Six-Member GRCs
5
2
Average GRC size
5.36
5.00
Single member constituencies
9
12
Voters
2,158,704
2,347,198
Voters (overseas votes inclusive)
2,159,721
2,350,873
· Background › Electoral divisions
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Aljunied GRC
Aljunied GRC
Constituency
Aljunied GRC
Changes
Absorbed portions of Kaki Bukit division from Marine Parade GRC, and a minor portion of Hougang SMCCarved out portions of Aljunied–Hougang division to Ang Mo Kio GRC, and a minor portion of Aljunied–Hougang and Bedok Reservoir-Punggol divisions to Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Ang Mo Kio GRC
Ang Mo Kio GRC
Constituency
Ang Mo Kio GRC
Changes
Absorbed Aljunied–Hougang division (renamed to Ang Mo Kio-Hougang) from Aljunied GRC and Yio Chu Kang SMC
Absorbed a minor portion of Punggol South from Pasir Ris–Punggol GRCCarved out Nee Soon South division (excluding the Lentor area south of Seletar Expressway) into Nee Soon GRC, and Sengkang West division into SMC
Chua Chu Kang GRC
Chua Chu Kang GRC
Constituency
Chua Chu Kang GRC
Changes
New ConstituencyFormed from a majority of Hong Kah GRC (except for Hong Kah North division, which carved into SMC), and Chua Chu Kang SMC
East Coast GRC
East Coast GRC
Constituency
East Coast GRC
Changes
Carved a portion of Kampong-Chai Chee to Marine Parade GRC
Holland–Bukit Timah GRC
Holland–Bukit Timah GRC
Constituency
Holland–Bukit Timah GRC
Changes
Ward downsized to four membersCarved out Buona Vista division into Tanjong Pagar GRC, a minor portion of Bukit Timah to West Coast GRC, and portions of Toh Guan to Jurong GRC
Jurong GRC
Jurong GRC
Constituency
Jurong GRC
Changes
Carved out Yuhua division into SMCPortions of Jurong Central and Taman Jurong divisions, West Coast GRC and Hong Kah GRC were formed into Jurong Spring division
Marine Parade GRC
Marine Parade GRC
Constituency
Marine Parade GRC
Changes
Ward downsized to five membersAbsorbed MacPherson SMC and a minor portion of Joo Chiat SMCPortions of Kaki Bukit and the entire Kampong Ubi-Kembangan divisions, and Kampong Chai Chee division from East Coast GRC were formed into Kembangan-Chai Chee divisionCarved out a portion of Kaki Bukit division to Aljunied GRC, and Mountbatten division into SMC
Moulmein–Kallang GRC
Moulmein–Kallang GRC
Constituency
Moulmein–Kallang GRC
Changes
New ConstituencyFormed from Jalan Besar GRC (except for Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng division (excluding northern Hong Lim portions) which was absorbed into Tanjong Pagar GRC, and Whampoa division as a SMC), and Moulmein division from Tanjong Pagar GRC
Nee Soon GRC
Nee Soon GRC
Constituency
Nee Soon GRC
Changes
New ConstituencyFormed from Nee Soon Central SMC, Nee Soon East SMC, Nee Soon South divisions from Ang Mo Kio GRC (excluding the Lentor area south of Seletar Expressway), and Canberra and Chong Pang divisions from Sembawang GRC
Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Constituency
Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Changes
Carved out Punggol East division into SMC, and a minor portion of Punggol South division to Ang Mo Kio GRC Portions of Punggol Central and North divisions were formed into Punggol West division
Sembawang GRC
Sembawang GRC
Constituency
Sembawang GRC
Changes
Ward downsized to five membersCarved out Canberra and Chong Pang to Nee Soon GRCPortions of Sembawang and Woodlands were formed into Woodgrove division.
Tanjong Pagar GRC
Tanjong Pagar GRC
Constituency
Tanjong Pagar GRC
Changes
Ward downsized to five membersAbsorbed Buona Vista and Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng divisions from Holland–Bukit Timah GRC and Jalan Besar GRC, respectivelyCarved out Moulmein division into Moulmein–Kallang GRC, and Radin Mas division into SMCMerged Tanjong Pagar and Tiong Bahru divisions to form Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru division
West Coast GRC
West Coast GRC
Constituency
West Coast GRC
Changes
Carved out portions of Pioneer division into SMC, while Jurong Industrial, Jurong Island, Gul Circle, Tuas and Joo Koon were transferred to Ayer Rajah divisionAyer Rajah-West Coast division were split into Ayer Rajah and West Coast divisions.
Ranked list
Constituency
Changes
Aljunied GRC
Absorbed portions of Kaki Bukit division from Marine Parade GRC, and a minor portion of Hougang SMCCarved out portions of Aljunied–Hougang division to Ang Mo Kio GRC, and a minor portion of Aljunied–Hougang and Bedok Reservoir-Punggol divisions to Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Ang Mo Kio GRC
Absorbed Aljunied–Hougang division (renamed to Ang Mo Kio-Hougang) from Aljunied GRC and Yio Chu Kang SMC Absorbed a minor portion of Punggol South from Pasir Ris–Punggol GRCCarved out Nee Soon South division (excluding the Lentor area south of Seletar Expressway) into Nee Soon GRC, and Sengkang West division into SMC
Chua Chu Kang GRC
New ConstituencyFormed from a majority of Hong Kah GRC (except for Hong Kah North division, which carved into SMC), and Chua Chu Kang SMC
East Coast GRC
Carved a portion of Kampong-Chai Chee to Marine Parade GRC
Holland–Bukit Timah GRC
Ward downsized to four membersCarved out Buona Vista division into Tanjong Pagar GRC, a minor portion of Bukit Timah to West Coast GRC, and portions of Toh Guan to Jurong GRC
Jurong GRC
Carved out Yuhua division into SMCPortions of Jurong Central and Taman Jurong divisions, West Coast GRC and Hong Kah GRC were formed into Jurong Spring division
Marine Parade GRC
Ward downsized to five membersAbsorbed MacPherson SMC and a minor portion of Joo Chiat SMCPortions of Kaki Bukit and the entire Kampong Ubi-Kembangan divisions, and Kampong Chai Chee division from East Coast GRC were formed into Kembangan-Chai Chee divisionCarved out a portion of Kaki Bukit division to Aljunied GRC, and Mountbatten division into SMC
Moulmein–Kallang GRC
New ConstituencyFormed from Jalan Besar GRC (except for Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng division (excluding northern Hong Lim portions) which was absorbed into Tanjong Pagar GRC, and Whampoa division as a SMC), and Moulmein division from Tanjong Pagar GRC
Nee Soon GRC
New ConstituencyFormed from Nee Soon Central SMC, Nee Soon East SMC, Nee Soon South divisions from Ang Mo Kio GRC (excluding the Lentor area south of Seletar Expressway), and Canberra and Chong Pang divisions from Sembawang GRC
Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Carved out Punggol East division into SMC, and a minor portion of Punggol South division to Ang Mo Kio GRC Portions of Punggol Central and North divisions were formed into Punggol West division
Sembawang GRC
Ward downsized to five membersCarved out Canberra and Chong Pang to Nee Soon GRCPortions of Sembawang and Woodlands were formed into Woodgrove division.
Tanjong Pagar GRC
Ward downsized to five membersAbsorbed Buona Vista and Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng divisions from Holland–Bukit Timah GRC and Jalan Besar GRC, respectivelyCarved out Moulmein division into Moulmein–Kallang GRC, and Radin Mas division into SMCMerged Tanjong Pagar and Tiong Bahru divisions to form Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru division
West Coast GRC
Carved out portions of Pioneer division into SMC, while Jurong Industrial, Jurong Island, Gul Circle, Tuas and Joo Koon were transferred to Ayer Rajah divisionAyer Rajah-West Coast division were split into Ayer Rajah and West Coast divisions.
· Nomination › Timeline
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
24 February
24 February
Date
24 February
Event
Publication of Electoral Boundaries report
3 March
3 March
Date
3 March
Event
Certification of Registers of Electors
19 April
19 April
Date
19 April
Event
Dissolution of 11th Parliament; Writ of Election issued
22 April
22 April
Date
22 April
Event
Deadline of Submission of Political Donation Certificates
27 April
27 April
Date
27 April
Event
Nomination Day/First Live Political Party Broadcast
27 April-5 May
27 April-5 May
Date
27 April-5 May
Event
Campaigning Period
6 May
6 May
Date
6 May
Event
Cooling-off Day/Second Live Political Party Broadcast
7 May
7 May
Date
7 May
Event
Polling Day
11 May
11 May
Date
11 May
Event
Overseas Votes Counting
16 May
16 May
Date
16 May
Event
Candidates revealed for Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
21 May
21 May
Date
21 May
Event
12th Parliament assembled
10 October
10 October
Date
10 October
Event
Opening of 12th Parliament
Ranked list
Date
Event
24 February
Publication of Electoral Boundaries report
3 March
Certification of Registers of Electors
19 April
Dissolution of 11th Parliament; Writ of Election issued
22 April
Deadline of Submission of Political Donation Certificates
27 April
Nomination Day/First Live Political Party Broadcast
27 April-5 May
Campaigning Period
6 May
Cooling-off Day/Second Live Political Party Broadcast
7 May
Polling Day
11 May
Overseas Votes Counting
16 May
Candidates revealed for Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
21 May
12th Parliament assembled
10 October
Opening of 12th Parliament
· Nomination › Nomination day details
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Admiralty Secondary School
Admiralty Secondary School
Nomination centre
Admiralty Secondary School
Electoral division(s)
Nee Soon GRCIO Sembawang GRCM
Bedok View Secondary School
Bedok View Secondary School
Nomination centre
Bedok View Secondary School
Electoral division(s)
East Coast GRCM Pasir Ris-Punggol GRCM Punggol East SMC
Deyi Secondary School
Deyi Secondary School
Nomination centre
Deyi Secondary School
Electoral division(s)
Aljunied GRCM Ang Mo Kio GRCIO Bishan-Toa Payoh GRCIO Sengkang West SMC
Dunman Secondary School
Dunman Secondary School
Nomination centre
Dunman Secondary School
Electoral division(s)
Hougang SMC Tampines GRCM
Greenridge Secondary School
Greenridge Secondary School
Nomination centre
Greenridge Secondary School
Electoral division(s)
Bukit Panjang SMC Holland-Bukit Timah GRCIO
Jurong Junior College
Jurong Junior College
Nomination centre
Jurong Junior College
Electoral division(s)
Jurong GRCIO Pioneer SMC West Coast GRCIO Yuhua SMC
Singapore Chinese Girls' School
Singapore Chinese Girls' School
Nomination centre
Singapore Chinese Girls' School
Electoral division(s)
Moulmein-Kallang GRCM Radin Mas SMC Tanjong Pagar GRCIO Whampoa SMC