Unlike the last GE, vibrant contests returned and PAP faced challenges in nearly all seats. In a surprising reversal of its boycott position, BS participated and this fuelled further internal party dissension. WP was rejuvenated by former district judge J. B. Jeyaretnam while its former leader and ex-Chief Minister David Marshall, who had contemplated standing as an independent candidate, was out of the running owing to a stingray wound. The report by the Electoral Boundaries Delineation Committee was tabled in Parliament on 19 October 1971 and passed on 31 December 1971. Despite stiffer competition, PAP captured every seat in Parliament for the second time. Describing the alternatives as having lost their credibility with swerving political manoeuvres, coupled with Singapore's progress and development without Parliamentary opposition, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and other PAP leaders said that voters did not see a need for political diversity, which would lead to squabbling and impede its effective governance.
2nd Parliament dissolution: 16 August 1972 [Wed]
Nomination day: 23 August 1972 [Wed]
Polling day: 2 September 1972 [Sat]
3rd Parliament convention: 12 October 1972 [Thu]
Eligible voters: 908,382
Voters in walkover constituencies: 95,456 (10.5%)
Total voters: 812,926 (89.5%)
Total voter turnout: 760,468 (93.5%)
Election deposit: $500
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