GRC (Group Representation Constituency)

Explain Like I’m Five

A constituency is an area whose residents are represented in Parliament. In a GRC, candidates stand as a team, and voters choose between teams rather than choosing each MP separately. The minority-community requirement is intended to ensure that minority racial communities are represented in Parliament.

How It Works

Each team consists of candidates from the same political party, or all independent candidates. At least one member must belong to the minority community designated for that GRC. In a contested election, the team receiving the most votes is elected.

Where You’ll Run Into It

In election coverage and descriptions of an MP’s constituency. MP means Member of Parliament; a label such as “Aljunied GRC MP” identifies the constituency that person represents.

The MPs elected in a GRC have estate-management responsibilities through the town council, which manages shared HDB property. A Meet-the-People Session is another way residents encounter their MP’s constituency work.

Example

“Why does this constituency have a team of candidates?”

A voter looking at a GRC ballot learns that one choice elects a group of representatives, rather than separately selecting each person on the team.