Voting in legislative elections a vital commitment to the Basic Law and allegiance to SAR: CE

Chief Executive (CE) Sam Hou Fai reportedly wrote to all civil servants regarding the Legislative Assembly elections, with the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) commenting that voting is both a right and an obligation for civil servants.

Media reports indicate that the Chief Executive recently sent a letter urging all civil servants to actively participate in voting during the Legislative Assembly elections.

In the letter, Sam stated that the Eighth Legislative Assembly Election of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR), scheduled for September 14, is the first election held following last year’s amendments to the Electoral Law for the Legislative Assembly and the further implementation of the principle of “patriots administering Macau.”

He pointed out that, as stipulated by the electoral law, voting is not only a right but also a civic duty. All Macau residents should actively participate in the election by casting their votes to elect their representatives.

“As members of the SAR’s governing team, civil servants should actively respond to the call of the Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission, fulfill their voting obligations, and encourage friends and family to vote,” the letter reportedly stated. “Under the newly amended Public Personnel Administration, civil servants at all levels must uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. Exercising their voting rights to elect representatives to the Legislative Assembly is a crucial way for civil servants to uphold the Basic Law and demonstrate their allegiance to the Macau SAR.”

In response to media inquiries about this letter, the CAEAL stated on Saturday that voting is both a right and an obligation for civil servants. The government will require all public entities to make convenient arrangements for civil servants on duty during voting day, September 14. However, the CAEAL emphasized that “if any civil servant is unable to vote due to unavoidable circumstances, no disciplinary liability will arise under relevant legal provisions.”

‘Legislative election is a crucial civic education initiative’

The Legislative Assembly election will be held on September 14. Mock polling stations at Tap Seac Multi-sport Pavilion and Macau Forum opened on Saturday for a seven-day period.

“The Legislative Assembly Election is a crucial civic education initiative,” stated Kong Chi Meng, director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ). The bureau organized youth and students to experience voting at the mock polling stations, which he described as “a vivid, three-dimensional civic education lesson.”

He added that as of Saturday, over 2,600 tertiary and secondary students, along with other youth, had registered to participate in the mock polling.

Kong noted that the bureau held meetings with universities and K–12 schools before the academic year began to promote civic education. This included using moral and civic education classes, creating graphic packages, and developing teaching materials to help students understand the Legislative Assembly elections.