Cooling-off Day is a day when campaigning is disallowed and election advertising must not be published or displayed. This 24-hour campaign silence period is to let voters reflect rationally on various issues raised at an election before going to the polls.

The following campaign activities are prohibited on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day:

• Canvassing and visiting homes and workplaces of voters in connection with the election;
• Wearing, using, carrying or displaying of any political propaganda (such as a badge, symbol, rosette, favour, set of colours, flag, advertisement, handbill, placard, poster or replica of a voting paper) by any person or on any motor-car, truck or other vehicle. Members of the public should refrain from wearing any apparel bearing the image, election symbol and/or campaign message of any candidate on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day; and
• Holding election meetings.

The following are prohibited at any time on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day at an election in an electoral division:

• Knowingly publishing, or knowingly causing or permitting to be published, any election advertising in or among electors in the electoral division; and
• Knowingly displaying, or knowingly causing or permitting to be displayed, any election advertising on any vehicle, thing or structure within the electoral division or adjoining the electoral division.

However, do note that there are some exceptions to the prohibitions of knowingly publishing or displaying election advertising on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day:

• Reports in the newspapers, on radio and television relating to election matters;
• Party Political Broadcasts scheduled from 9pm onwards on Cooling-off Day
• Approved posters/banners lawfully displayed before the start of Cooling-off Day;
• Election advertising that was lawfully displayed or published before the start of Cooling-off Day on the Internet and that was not changed after its publication or display. However, programmatic advertising, i.e. using technology to automatically deliver digital ads online and on social media platforms, should not be conducted on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day.
• Distribution or promotion of the sale of any book if the book was scheduled for publication independent of the election and the book is not sold at less than its commercial value;
• The transmission of personal political views by individuals to other individuals, on a non-commercial basis, using the Internet, telephone or electronic means;
• The wearing by candidates, of a badge indicating affiliation with a political party or replica of the symbol allotted to them.

Candidates and their supporters are expected to abide fully by all relevant laws on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day, and should refrain from conduct that goes against the spirit behind the prohibition against campaigning on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day.

Candidates should also be mindful of how they conduct themselves in public and exercise due care to avoid any action that may be perceived as campaigning.

Attending religious ceremonies for private prayer or worship, or attending functions in the course of work or employment would still be permissible, subject to the general prohibitions against campaigning and election advertising on Cooling-off Day and Polling Day.

Please also be reminded that the publication of election surveys and exit polls are prohibited before the close of all polling stations.

Source: Parliamentary Elections Act

This article is accurate as of Sep 2015.