CAEAL describes voting atmosphere as ‘enthusiastic’

The eighth Legislative Assembly elections have been underway for over nine hours, and the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) described voters as “enthusiastically exercising their right to vote,” with a turnout rate of 51.66% as of 8 p.m., reflecting 169,702 ballots cast out of 328,506 eligible voters.

“Overall voting has been proceeding smoothly so far, with voters enthusiastically exercising their right to vote and fulfilling their civic duty,” stated Seng Ioi Man, president of the CAEAL, at a press briefing this evening.

He remarked, “Simply comparing the numbers, voter turnout in this election was higher than in the last one until 6 p.m. It is currently impossible to assess the specific reasons.” However, he believes that the shuttle bus services implemented to facilitate voters’ access to their polling stations have “indeed made it easier for them to reach their designated polling stations and cast their votes.”

On behalf of the CAEAL, he expressed gratitude to those who have already cast their ballots and urged eligible voters who have yet to vote to “make the most of the remaining time.” He reminded them to “arrive at their designated polling stations before the polls close at 9 p.m. tonight to cast their vote and contribute to the formation of the new Legislative Assembly.”

“The CAEAL once again urges all eligible voters who have not yet cast their ballots to take advantage of the remaining time,” Seng stated, noting that the current weather is more comfortable. He encouraged voters to “set aside time after meals or work to actively cast their votes at their designated polling stations,” underscoring the importance of “exercising their civic rights and responsibilities to help build Macau’s future together.”

Meanwhile, the CAEAL stated during the press briefing that it had received one suspected violation case requiring police assistance. Seng revealed further details, noting that one voter was suspected of using a mobile phone to photograph a ballot at a polling station and allegedly sending it to a friend via a messaging app.

The CAEAL emphasized that the case remains under investigation and noted that such incidents have decreased compared to previous years. “This reflects voters’ responsiveness to the CAEAL’s publicity campaigns and appeals,” Seng remarked, “as well as heightened awareness of prohibited practices.”

According to the CAEAL, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai paid close attention to the operations at polling stations and service stations. “The Chief Executive visited three polling stations during the midday and afternoon hours to understand the working conditions and shift arrangements of staff members, offering them encouragement,” Seng noted.

He emphasized that all polling stations functioned smoothly and in an orderly manner, with the majority of voters completing the voting process quickly and efficiently.

During the evening press briefing, the CAEAL did not disclose further details regarding election-related complaints and reports.

Instead, Ao Ieong Seong, commissioner against corruption, told the media on the sidelines of her vote at Taipa’s Olympic Sports Centre that 138 election-related complaints and reports had been received recently, which is comparable to previous elections. Of these, 26 cases were deemed worthy of investigation.

She noted that from the nomination period to the campaign period, “everything proceeded in an orderly manner with a positive atmosphere,” highlighting a decrease in serious election violations and vote-buying complaints. The majority of the complaints involved improper campaigning during the publicity period, such as “conducting promotions at non-designated locations.”

From Saturday until today, a cooling-off period has been in effect for the election. During this time, individuals are prohibited from carrying promotional materials or wearing clothing bearing campaign slogans in public, as doing so constitutes illegal campaigning.

Regarding these cases, Ao Ieong stated that the CCAC has handled approximately 10 advisory cases and has already followed up on instances where promotional materials were not removed.

In response to media inquiries about online claims that private enterprises or gaming operators were coercing employees to vote, Ao Ieong stated that while the CCAC had received “inquiries,” she believes both the public and private sectors demonstrated strong support for today’s election. She emphasized that numerous convenient measures had been implemented to enable employee voters to actively fulfill their voting responsibilities, describing this as a “positive phenomenon.”

She further noted that no coercive practices, such as instructing employees to vote for a specific group, had been observed – practices that would violate the election law.

Regarding reports of civil servants or private sector employees receiving demands to “must” vote, the CCAC confirmed it had only received “inquiries” – specifically about which polling station was most convenient for voters and whether disclosing one’s voter status or voting intentions posed any issues.

However, on the eve of the election, Chinese online media reported that an institutional body “repeatedly hinted to civil servants, who should remain politically neutral, and civil servant groups to vote for the Women’s General Association of Macau during the prohibited campaigning period from June 27 to August 29.”

No response has been received regarding these allegations.

According to Macau’s amended Legislative Assembly Election Law, the start of the prohibited campaigning period has been advanced to the day following the deadline for submitting candidate lists. During this period, no one may engage in campaign promotion through any means, or they could face fines ranging from MOP2,000 to MOP10,000.

Additionally, the report indicated that former pro-democracy lawmaker António Ng Kuok Cheong was “sent on a trip” before the legislative election. His Facebook post implied: “By order of the authorities, the body [sic] of democratic Cheong must be transferred outside the Macau SAR, but prior approval allows for return after 10 days… At that time, I hope to reunite with my brothers without hindrance… Take care, everyone…”