Members of the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission headed by Tong Hio Fong (center)
The two week-long campaign period for the upcoming parliamentary election commenced over the weekend, with an obviously inhibited energy level, in part due to the disease control measures.
Another possible reason for the event not generating as much excitement as in previous elections is that this year a total of 14 lists are running for 14 seats in the direct election constituency.
In addition, 21 candidates were disqualified before the start of the campaign due to accusations of failing to pledge allegiance to the city and not upholding the Basic Law.
September 12 has been set as the polling date for this election.
Tap Seac Square was cordoned off on Saturday for candidates to post their respective posters. Only a very limited number of people are allowed to enter the cordoned area.
The campaign period officially started at midnight on Saturday.
Only a small number of spectators were present at the perimeter of the cordoned off area, possibly because the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) had initially announced that no campaign commencement event would be held at all.
Although there were some members of the public, the people present were mostly supporting personnel from the candidate lists. Most held placards for promotional purposes.
Tap Seac Square is the first event for a number of campaigns, such as Civil Watch, Power of Synergy and New Hope, lists numbered 2, 6 and 14 respectively.
Meanwhile, some lists have chosen to avoid Tap Seac Square and unleashed their campaign in their main “ballot warehouse”. For example, List 8 – Promoting Union for Progress and List 11 – Union for Development have chosen to kick off their campaigns at the Border Gate. List 3 – Macau United Citizens Association has chosen to launch their campaign at the Iao Hon Garden.
Reviewing the campaign period commencement event, the CAEAL head Tong Hio Fong said that crowd control at the Tap Seac Square was well organized. He thanked the various lists for their coordination.
When asked about all of the reversals in policy that took place before the campaign period, and whether or not turnout will be lower than previous elections, Tong said it would be up to decisions that voters need to make for themselves.
Colors, numbers, names, masks
Tong reminded the public that on the cool-off day — the day before the polling day — and polling day itself, voters should be mindful of their attire and refrain from wearing any items that have colors resembling one or more particular candidate lists.
More importantly, clothing prints that show the numbers, names, acronyms or logos of any particular lists are considered to be in violation of the Election Law.
Voters wearing such items of clothing must cover the item before they can enter the polling station.
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