“If you want to keep to the same ratio, you need to elect at least 97 MPs,” said Asst Prof Ong, indicating an increase of 4 elected MP seats.
Dr Teo Kay Key, a research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, noted that the terms of reference called for the committee to “keep the proportion of MPs from SMCs, not the number”.
This means that if the overall number of MPs to be elected increases, the number of SMCs should also increase by a similar percentage, said Dr Teo.
To maintain the 15 per cent proportion of MPs from SMCs, 15 single-seat wards would be required. That leaves 82 seats among the GRCs.
To divide them according to the average of 4.65 MPs per GRC, a total of 18 GRCs would be needed on the electoral map.
“So the best prediction is at least one more GRC,” said Asst Prof Ong.
Singapore Management University’s associate professor of law, Eugene Tan, agreed with the change in the number of GRCs. “For example, if four new seats are recommended, that can form one four-member GRC.”
Dr Teo noted that the changes could take place in electoral divisions experiencing “significant changes in elector numbers,” such as Tengah, which has recently seen the completion of new Build-to-Order housing projects and the arrival of new residents.
TIMING OF THE ELECTION
On Wednesday, the Elections Department also announced that the voter rolls would be revised in February, with the exercise to be completed by Apr 1.
Experts told CNA that while the revision will finalise who can vote in the election, the EBRC does not necessarily have to wait for it to be completed before releasing its final report.
“Ideally, the electoral register revision should be completed first before the EBRC report is submitted. But the authorities probably have a rough idea of the increase in voting population,” said Assoc Prof Tan.
If the EBRC report is released by the deadline, he added, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong could potentially call the election as early as Apr 1 itself.
