Chief Executive Electoral Affairs Commission (CAECE) President Song Man Lei says that her commission is studying the possibility of setting up a backup polling station at a local school for the election of the Chief Executive Election Committee, which will be held in August, in case one or more of the election’s three polling stations cannot operate due to an unexpected incident.
Song made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Friday after chairing a regular closed-door meeting of the commission at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo.
Song reaffirmed on Friday that her commission has preliminarily concluded that the three polling stations used in the 2019 election of the Chief Executive Election Committee are suitable to be used for this time’s election after carrying out on-site inspections of the three venues, namely the Macao Polytechnic University’s (MPU) Multi-Sport Pavilion in Zape, the nearby Macau Forum complex, and the Luso-Chinese Vocational and Technical School in Areia Preta district.
The three locations are suitable for the upcoming election, in terms of their size, safety condition, and traffic condition in the vicinity, Song said.
Song said that barrier-free facilities at the three venues will be further improved with the aim of making it more convenient for voters in need to cast their ballots.
Moreover, Song also said that her commission is studying the possibility of setting up a backup polling station at Macau Baptist College in Areia Preta district in case one or more of the election’s three polling stations suddenly cannot operate because of any unforeseeable incident, with the aim of ensuring that the election can take place smoothly.
Song said that her commission has carried out an on-site inspection of Macau Baptist College and concluded that it meets the official requirements for being used as a polling station.
The election of the chief executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is held every five years. The head of the MSAR is elected by the 400-member Chief Executive Election Committee.
The majority of the 400-member committee are elected by registered association representatives. This time, the committee’s election will be held on August 11.
The chief executive election is expected to be held in October at the earliest.
Flanked by her fellow members, Chief Executive Electoral Affairs Commission (CAECE) President Song Man Lei (centre) briefs reporters on Friday after a closed-door meeting of the commission at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo. – Photo: GCS
