1997 Singaporean general election

1997 Singaporean general election

← 1991 2 January 1997 2001 →

All 83 directly elected seats in Parliament (and up to 3 NCMPs)
Registered765,332 / 1,881,011[a]
Turnout95.91% (Increase 0.88pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Goh Chok Tong J. B. Jeyaretnam Chiam See Tong
Party PAP WP SPP
Last election 60.97%, 77 seats 14.29%, 1 seat
Seats won 81 2 1
Seat change Increase 4 Increase 1 New
Popular vote 465,751 101,544 16,746
Percentage 64.98% 14.17% 2.34%
Swing Increase 4.01pp Decrease 0.12pp New

Results by constituency

Prime Minister before election

Goh Chok Tong
PAP

Prime Minister after election

Goh Chok Tong
PAP

General elections were held in Singapore on 2 January 1997. President Ong Teng Cheong dissolved parliament on 16 December 1996 on the advice of Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The results were released in the late evening that day and the ruling People's Action Party won a total of 81 out of 83 seats as well as a tenth consecutive term in office under the then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. Other major political parties contesting in the election were the Workers' Party, Singapore Democratic Party, National Solidarity Party, Singapore People's Party and the Democratic Progressive Party.

After nomination day on 23 December 1996, the People's Action Party returned to power for the second consecutive (and third overall) election as 47 (more than half of the total 83) seats were won uncontested. On polling day, voters voted for the election for the remaining 36 seats, with the opposition party candidates winning only in two seats, down from the four they won in the last election. In this election, Group Representation Constituencies were increased from four members to between four and six members (six-member seats would remain present for two decades until its first absence in the 2020 election).
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