President S. R. Nathan

President S. R. Nathan, who earlier gave indications of a retirement, decided a month before this election to stand for another term. Once again, as the only candidate with a Certificate of Eligibility, he won uncontested in his second walkover victory.

Four other candidates were denied the Certificate, including an independent candidate in the 2001 General Election, Ooi Boon Ewe, also one of three who had attempted but failed to qualify for the 1999 Presidential Election.

The most controversial unsuccessful applicant turned out to be Andrew Kuan, a PAP member and former Chief Financial Officer of Jurong Town Corporation. Despite his credentials, his former Chief Executive Officer in JTC came out in public to say that he was a poor performer after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on those acquainted with Kuan to speak freely on what they knew about him.

In the end, the Presidential Elections Committee ruled that Kuan did not qualify, as a CFO did not meet the election law's requirement of having to previously serve as chairman or CEO for three years.

This election marked the first time an incumbent elected President ran for a second term in the Istana. Also, two out of three Presidential Elections in history have ended in a walkover.

Due to the non-contest, polling day scheduled for 27 August 2005, with overseas voting decreed for the first time in Singapore history, did not take place.