The Chief Executive Electoral Affairs Commission (CAECE) has set up a mock polling station at the Macau Forum complex in Zape for the election of the Chief Executive Election Committee members, which will be held this Sunday.
The mock station opened to the public yesterday and is open today from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
CAECE President Song Man Lei visited the mock polling station yesterday and simulated the voting procedure.
After the simulation, Song told reporters at the complex that the seven polling stations set up at the three voting locations will all be ready by today.
In addition to the Macau Forum in Zape, the nearby Macao Polytechnic University’s (MPU) Multi-Sport Pavilion in Zape and the Luso-Chinese Vocational and Technical School in Areia Preta district will also be used as polling stations for the election.
Song underlined that the use of mobile phones, video recording, audio recording, and other communication devices is prohibited inside the polling stations. Appropriate reminders have been set up inside the venues and voting booths to remind voters to comply with the rules, she said, adding that voters should not intentionally add any words or graphics, or tear the ballot papers, as they would be considered invalid votes.
According to Song, similar to the 2019 election, Sunday’s balloting will also use electronic voting to expedite the vote-counting process. She noted that the process is more mature than the previous election, adding she believed that, therefore, the vote counting process can be completed faster this time.
Song added that the mock polling station provides an opportunity for eligible voters to familiarise themselves in advance with the proper way to mark their ballots, as they could promptly ask for assistance should they face any difficulties. Around 6,200 voters have registered for Sunday’s secret ballot of the Chief Executive Election Committee members.
There are 348 candidates for the 344 seats up for grabs. The remaining 56 seats are representatives from a wide range of interests, such as national and local lawmakers and political advisors as well as the religious (Buddhist, Taoist, Catholic and Protestant) sector.
The chief executive election is slated to be held in mid-October. Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng is widely expected to be the only candidate. Informed sources have told the Post that he will announce his re-election platform “quite soon”. According to the Macau Basic Law, the chief executive can serve no more than two consecutive five-year terms.
CAECE President Song Man Lei shows the media a ballot paper in the mock polling station at the Macau Forum complex in Zape yesterday. – Photo: William Chan
