Three candidates ran for the non-partisan position: Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Ng Kok Song, and Tan Kin Lian, who were all independents or had resigned from any political parties that they had previously been members of.

This was in response to an ageing electorate and travel restrictions, especially with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic occurring at the time of the 2020 elections, according to Education Minister and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing.

[102] Under amendments to bills of 8 March, minors under the age of 16 (previously applied to students studying in primary or secondary schools) and foreign entities (such as companies or organisations) are barred from any political involvement to prevent exploitation, though they can still participate in election-related activities such as attending rallies.

[114] Ng began his campaigning by visiting his former residence at Kangkar (now Sengkang and located in Upper Serangoon) where he bowed down and kissed the ground,[115] referencing his childhood and proving that young Singaporeans can be successful regardless of background.

[122] Ng also concluded that such blatant political endorsements of Tan polarise voters by politicising the presidential election and that by doing so have "dishonoured the office of the President as a unifying non-partisan position.

[126] Tharman Shanmugaratnam responded on media during a walkabout at Sengkang that he found it "absurd" and concerning that his rivals are "increasingly sweeping statements" pertaining to being non-partisan, to which Ng replied that he was "misquoted".

[129] Elsewhere, Tan's seconder Lim Tean adjourned his court trial on charges of acting as an advocate or solicitor in an unauthorized manner in 2021, which was initially scheduled for 29 August, after he dismissed his lawyer citing "fundamental disagreements", and to avoid conflicts with the election.

[135] Meanwhile, screenshots depicting the Reserves & Investment (R&I) Directorate list of employees showing Akilan Shanmugaratnam, the son of Tharman, working as a Finance Ministry officer since June 2022, went viral on social media.

He said that the president's role would serve as a "constitutional check" on a bad government that might raid the country's reserves, or appoint incompetent or corrupt individuals to key public-service positions.

[146] Prior to the broadcast, both ELD and the Infocomm Media Development Authority had amended Tan's script by removing some inaccuracies, specifically on the president's role and on soliciting voters.

[150] Tan Kin Lian acknowledged that the president has no executive authority over day-to-day issues, particularly those affecting younger people, but that he could focus on using "soft influence" to encourage change, hoping to "achieve our common goals for the benefit of Singapore".

Tan also highlighted that one could factor his experience as president from making "sound investment decisions" at NTUC Income and from representing the country in an international insurance federation.

[151] Tharman highlighted his track record of connecting with people from all backgrounds in his former Taman Jurong division of Jurong GRC, from when he was a member of parliament (MP) of the People's Action Party (PAP) for 22 years—his ministerial positions including being Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister, and Senior Minister—and from his experience working with international organisations such as the G20, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations (UN), and the World Economic Forum (WEF).

He also brought up the 1984 National Day Rally speech of then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, stating that Singaporeans should be aware of "silver-tongued politicians who make empty promises".

[190] Deputy Prime Ministers Lawrence Wong[191] and Heng Swee Keat also congratulated Tharman in separate posts, so did Lee's wife, Ho Ching,[192] and his younger brother Hsien Yang.

[197] Current PSP Secretary-general, Leong Mun Wai, also congratulated Tharman and said that the election was a "testimony to the fact that Singaporean voters do not vote along racial lines".

[199][non-primary source needed][200] Red Dot United's secretary-general Ravi Philemon also congratulated Tharman, citing their team's dignified contest during the 2020 election.

[202] In the early morning, the Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre was crowded in celebration of Tharman's election, with his supporters bringing out pineapples, chanting Ong lai huat ah (lit.

[206] On 6 September, Jurong GRC residents voiced concerns to Red Dot United, including those relating to the high cost of living, inflation, and the GST increasing to 9% by year's end.

Institute of Policy Studies Senior Researcher Gillian Koh suggested that the voters would find it difficult to resist Tharman's "unparalleled international standing".

[231] School of Social Sciences, at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Assistant Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah's analysis suggests that Tan Kin Lian was attempting to position himself as the "ultimate anti-establishment candidate".

[233] In a radio interview on MONEY FM 89.3, on "Breakfast with Lynlee Foo and Ryan Huang" on 30 August, Eugene Tan praised the widespread use of social media to communicate in the election.

[234] When the sample counts were released on 2 September, political analysts suggested that Tharman's personal charisma and past track record and experience, including his constituency of Jurong GRC being the best-performing constituency for two consecutive elections in 2015 and 2020, may have attributed to a landslide victory, as opposed to Ng's lack of public exposure and Tan's previous controversies, which to Eugene Tan, cited in the CNA Polling Day results special, was a "mind-boggling" result.

In addition, Tan's campaign had a misconception of what the president did as well as expressing views that were perceived as "misogynist, racist, [and] even nativist", which a majority of Singaporeans overwhelmingly rejected.

[237][238] Leong Chan-Hoong also praised Singaporeans over the results, agreeing that they have voted "about trust of the candidate", over certain doubts and past issues pertaining to the scandals and resignations from the PAP government prior to the election.

He added that pundits who could predict the trend of Tharman's clear mandate should "take nothing for granted", and that the victory was an unusual one for a multi-candidate contest, which hints at the possibility that there is another establishment candidate who will be able to repeat this feat against a more formidable opponent in future presidential elections.

In another podcast, with ST's multimedia correspondent Hairianto Diman and deputy news editor Grace Ho, it was pointed out that the election would be seen as determining who would represent in a global-level and the generational changes ahead for the government.

[245] Another editor, Tan Min-Wei, also praised the contests and how the election went smoothly, citing a quote from a 1999 American political drama The West Wing that "decisions are made by those who show up".

[253] In the early morning of 13 September, the day before the inauguration, President Halimah Yacob thanked all the workers and staff members residing in The Istana before she departed for her retirement.

She also announced her retirement after nearly 22 years of political involvement, and said that she would continue to work with the community "in different capacities", raising awareness for mental health and helping people with disabilities, and with empowering women and advocating for a meritocracy.