PAP Member of Parliament C. V. Devan Nair was nominated as the third President of Singapore, which vacated the Anson seat for a by-election for the third time in the constituency's history. WP leader J. B. Jeyaretnam and a SDP candidate accompanied by SDP leader Chiam See Tong both turned up at the nomination centre but the latter pulled out after discussions to make way for the former to avert a three-corner clash. However, UPF leader Harbans Singh entered the fray. Jeyaretnam's victory marked the end of PAP's 15-year monopoly since BS boycott of Parliament in 1966 and WP's return to the legislature since 20 years ago in 1961 and in the same seat David Marshall, then WP chairman, clinched.

Nomination day: 21 October 1981 [Wed]
Polling day: 31 October 1981 [Sat]

Total voters: 14,512
Total voter turnout: 13,746 (94.7%)

Election deposit: $1,500

RESULTS

Anson

Total seats = 1