Macau debuts polling station for French Presidential Election

Ballots showcase the words ‘French Republic’

A polling station for the French Presidential Election [see more on page 15] has been set up in Macau for the first time. The idea, initially promoted by the French Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau, Eric Berti, was “very well received by the French community in Macau,” said Éric Sautedé on the quality of election committee members.

It is estimated that around 400 French nationals live in Macau, but many are not registered to vote here. There were a total of 136 voters registered to vote in Macau. The final results of the Macau polling station were disclosed yesterday evening. Only sixty six French nationals voted and there was a tie between candidates Emmanuel Macron and François Fillon (18 votes each). Candidate Marine Le Pen was third, with 11 votes. 

The Macau polling station, located at the headquarters of Alliance Française de Macao (AF), is the sixth polling station organized by the French Consulate for Hong Kong and Macau. The neighboring region has five other polling stations in several locations in order to serve around 8,000 registered voters.

Feedback from voters has been very positive, since the new polling station allows voters to exercise their rights “without having to go to Hong Kong and spend probably all day travelling and also the ferry tickets,” remarked Sautedé, noting that he expects more than 60 percent of registered voters to vote in this election.

“That’s what we expect for Hong Kong and Macau should be in line with Hong Kong,” he said.

Xavier Garnier, Director of the AF, remarked that until around 5.00 p.m. yesterday there were about 50 people voting, amounting to around 40 percent of the total. This number is considered normal, he said, explaining that “usually some people will come just before the closing time because people [voters] are allowed to stay and be part of the counting of the votes and know in first hand the Macau results.”

Commenting on the French people’s expectations of yesterday’s elections, he said, “For the first time, this election will be really uncertain, because we have four candidates in conditions to move forward to the second round. We are in a bit of a suspense since we don’t really know what could happen

He added that this fact might be “added interest for this election and [as further motivation for] people to vote in France.”