Call it an upping of the umbrella game.

In 2011, the Workers' Party (WP) won plaudits for giving its supporters brollies in its party hue of pale blue, emblazoned with its hammer logo on Nomination Day. It was a good way to spread the party's brand, and the umbrellas also gave supporters cover from the sun.

This year, the People's Action Party did the same - but went one better.

At the nomination centres at Fengshan Primary and Yishun Primary, it distributed blank white umbrellas as well as those with the party lightning logo. This was so that activists and supporters could first use the former against the baking noon sun.

Election paraphernalia with party logos can be used only when the candidates are confirmed by the Returning Officer after the successful submission of their papers.

By then, supporters would have been standing under the sun for a couple of hours.

Law student Thomas Oh, 23, said the umbrellas were a boon, especially for older folk. While there may have been an element of competitiveness with WP, he said, "it's not a big deal".