Singaporean general election, 1976

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Future Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong following his first election as MP for Marine Parade in 1976. His Polling Agent Chong Ah Fatt celebrated with fellow supporters by lifting Goh onto his shoulders.

General elections were held in Singapore on 23 December 1976. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 69 seats, the third of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat. Voter turnout was 95.1% in the 53 constituencies that were contested,[1] with PAP candidates elected unopposed in the other sixteen.

Electoral system

The 69 members of Parliament were elected from 69 single-member constituencies, an increase from 65 used for the previous elections in 1972. Six constituencies were abolished and ten new ones created. The deposit was increased for the first time, rising to $1,200 from $500.[2]

Although the total electorate was 1,095,817, 238,520 were based in the 16 uncontested seats, leaving 857,297 voters eligible to vote on election day.[2]

Campaign

A total of 124 candidates contested the election; the PAP were the only party to run in all 69 constituencies, as five opposition parties – Barisan Sosialis, the Singapore Justice Party, PKMS, the United Front and the Workers' Party – formed a Joint Opposition Council to cooperate at the polls. The Workers' Party nominated 22 candidates and United Front 14; no other party put forward more than six candidates. Two people ran as independents,[3] including Chiam See Tong, who later became Singapore's longest-serving opposition MP.

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
People's Action Party590,16974.169+4
Workers' Party91,96611.500
United Front53,3736.50New
Barisan Sosialis25,4113.200
United People's Front14,2331.80New
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura9,2301.200
Singapore Justice Party5,1990.70New
People's Front2,8180.300
Independents4,1730.500
Invalid/blank votes18,558
Total815,13010069+4
Registered voters/turnout857,29778.2
Source: Singapore Elections

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p254 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. 1 2 Parliamentary general election 1976 Singapore Elections
  3. Parliamentary general election 1976: Seats Singapore Elections
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