Eighth Legislative Assembly election closes with 175,272 voters in direct election

Voting for the eighth Legislative Assembly direct and indirect elections concluded at 9 p.m., with Seng Ioi Man, president of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election (CAEAL), announcing preliminary results of 175,272 voters in the direct election, reflecting a turnout rate of 53.35%, while the indirect elections saw 6,645 votes cast at a turnout rate of 88.12%.

However, it is still uncertain whether the direct election turnout will set a new high since 2017.

The CAEAL pledged to announce the results “as soon as possible,” although they did not provide a specific timeline. “We expect to announce the results promptly, as the voting locations include 37 directly elected polling stations and 5 indirectly elected polling stations. Once the vote counting is completed, we will swiftly release the results; however, we are currently unable to provide a specific timeframe,” the president said.

Wrapping up election operations, Seng described the situation as having “overall order as good, with smooth functioning from start to finish.” As polling stations closed, the official counting phase commenced. “First, the number of ballot boxes deposited will be counted. After confirmation, the formal counting stage will begin […] Each polling station is equipped with sufficient ballot counters to swiftly complete the numerical verification before commencing the official counting process,” he explained.

According to CAEAL, certain polling stations had counting tables set up in advance, allowing them to start the counting process quickly. However, if any polling station lacks enough space to accommodate counting operations, necessary adjustments will be made to ensure the counting proceeds efficiently.

Concerns have been raised about whether the overall trend of the vote reflects the government’s efforts to encourage participation in this election. Seng assured that once the official results are confirmed, the CAEAL will analyze the data to understand how effective those efforts were. He also promised to provide more information later and to address the question of voter participation at that time.

Speaking on behalf of the CAEAL, he expressed gratitude to “every voter who cast their ballot at polling stations despite the sweltering heat.” He also thanked polling station staff for their hard work, as well as all personnel assisting in maintaining order, including public security officers and security personnel. He conveyed his “sincere appreciation to all.”

Meanwhile, Macau’s Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) reported that by the close of polls, it had conducted 2,608 inspections on polling day, during which it received 15 complaints and 34 inquiries.

Since early March, the CCAC has received a total of 143 complaints and 145 inquiries, opening 26 criminal investigation files. Among these, four cases involve vote-buying and other election-related illegal activities.

Regarding suspected election violations on election day, the CAEAL stated during a press briefing at 10:50 p.m. that only one case had been reported.