District Council Ordinary Election poll cards mailed to about 4.33 million electors
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"Electors should have received their poll cards. Electors can log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (vr.gov.hk) if they have not yet received their poll cards to check whether they are registered electors and their designated polling stations. They can also call the election hotline 2891 1001 for enquiries," a spokesman of the REO said today (December 1).
District Council geographical constituency (DCGC) electors will be allocated to ordinary polling stations in the vicinity of their registered addresses. The polling hours of ordinary polling stations will be from 8.30am to 10.30pm (14 hours in total).
District Committees constituency (DCC) electors will be assigned to the polling stations of the DCCs to which they belong. The polling hours will be from 8.30am to 2.30pm (six hours in total). The REO will remind DCC electors on the envelope of the poll cards issued to them that the poll for the DCC and DCGC will take place at two different polling stations with different polling hours.
"Electors may only cast their votes at the designated polling stations as specified on their poll cards. They are advised to note the addresses of the designated polling stations on their poll cards to ensure that they go to the correct polling stations. However, electors who have registered to vote at the near boundary polling stations (NBPSs) may ignore the polling station information printed on the poll cards if they have received the notification of registration result sent to them by the REO via SMS and/or email," the spokesman said.
In addition to the poll card, the electoral mail sent to each elector by the REO also includes the printed copy of the introduction to candidates in his/her constituency, a location map of the designated polling station, a voting procedures guide, as well as a leaflet on clean election. The above-mentioned introduction to candidates, the location map of the polling station and the clean elections leaflet can also be viewed on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/dc2023/eng/pollinfo.html).
"The voting process is very simple. Electors may only cast their votes at the designated polling stations as specified on their poll cards/ the NBPS (if applicable). An elector must show the original copy of his/her Hong Kong identity card at the ballot paper issuing desk. The polling staff will scan the elector's Hong Kong identity card with an Electronic Poll Register (EPR) system tablet and then issue the ballot paper. The elector may check his/her name, partial Hong Kong identity card number and the constituency to which he/she belongs as shown on the tablet of the ballot paper issuing desk during the ballot paper issuance process.
"The EPR system will be adopted at most polling stations, but the printed copy of the final register will be used for issuing ballot papers at dedicated polling stations and the polling stations with difficulties in installation and technical support due to remoteness or unstable network coverage," the spokesman added.
"For DCGCs, electors must use the chop provided by the polling station to stamp a tick in the circle opposite the name of the candidate of their choice on the ballot paper inside a voting compartment by themselves, and then insert the unfolded ballot paper into the ballot box with the marked side facing down. Please note that each elector can only select one candidate to stamp a tick on the ballot paper (viz. the ballot paper can only have one tick), otherwise the ballot paper will be deemed as invalid.
"For DCCs, electors must use the black pen provided in the polling station to fill in the ovals opposite the names of the candidates of their choice inside a voting compartment by themselves. They must vote for no more and no less than the number of vacancies for that DCC, otherwise the ballot paper will be deemed as invalid. The ballot paper checking system will be set up in DCC polling stations for electors to check whether the number of candidates marked on the ballot paper is equal to the number of seats to be returned for the constituency. The ballot paper checking system will neither record nor count the electors' choices on the ballot papers. After marking a ballot paper, the elector should insert the unfolded ballot paper into the ballot box with the marked side facing down.
"The ballot is autonomous and secret. An elector must mark the ballot paper on his/her own in the voting compartment. If in need, an elector may request the Presiding Officer (PRO) or the PRO's deputy to mark the ballot paper on his/her behalf according to his/her voting preference in the presence of one polling staff as a witness. It is an offence for any elector to disturb others, use electronic devices for communication, take photographs, or make video or audio recordings at a polling station."
To ensure that electors understand the polling procedures, the REO has produced a set of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest which have been uploaded onto the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/dc2023/eng/publicity.html) for electors' reference.
Information about the election is available on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the election hotline (2891 1001).
Ends/Friday, December 1, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:35
Issued at HKT 18:35
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