Election guidelines issued

July 23, 2021

Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Barnabas Fung:
After the passage of the amendment bill (Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021), we are now empowered to use the electronic poll register inside polling stations for the issue of ballot papers. 

Basically, it is a computer system that will scan the ID card (Hong Kong identity card) and then ascertain the eligibility of the person asking for the ballot paper and in which subsector he or she is entitled to vote.

As to operating the system, basically it is operated by the polling staff. What I mentioned (earlier) with the two tablets, one is the operation of the system. It is no different from what it was before - it is operated by the polling staff - except that it used to be on paper and now it is (conducted) on the computer. It used to be that (the staff) had to cross the name of the voter after the issue of a (ballot). Now it will be done by the computer automatically. 

As to the voters, he or she will have another tablet in front of him or her, so that they can look at the basic information and confirm “yes, that is me, that is alright”. So I do not think there will be any difficulties for the voters when engaging the system. 

We have, in the design of the system, firstly, enlarged the fonts, so it will be easy to read. Secondly, we also have magnifying devices for those with poorer eyesight.

As to the shortening of the polling hours, this is a practical arrangement in view of the fact that there will be only about 8,000 voters in total. Also we have taken the advice of the Legislative Council that it is clear that 15 hours would be too much and hence not an efficient use of public resources. So we reduced the polling hours for the smaller electorate. 

As to the voting rate, it is never the task of the EAC (Electoral Affairs Commission) to predict the voting rate, except that we will urge those who are entitled to vote - which will be issued in August - to come forward and vote.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Electoral Affairs Commission announced the guidelines on activities relating to the Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) Elections to enhance electoral arrangements.

They include the use of an electronic poll register to issue ballot papers and a special queue at polling stations to facilitate people with special needs. Voting hours will also be reduced for better use of the resources.

Unveiling the Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the Election Committee Subsector Elections at a press conference today, Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Barnabas Fung said the guidelines are prepared on the basis of the guidelines for the ECSS elections released in 2016, with appropriate amendments.

Mr Fung said the electronic poll register system (EPR) will be used for the first time in the 2021 ECSS Ordinary Elections to make the issuance of ballot papers more efficient and accurate.

“After the passage of the amendment bill (Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021), we are now empowered to use the electronic poll register inside polling stations for the issue of ballot papers.”

Upon entry to the polling stations, the voter/authorised representative of a corporate voter will be directed to one of the ballot paper issuing desks. The polling staff will check their identity cards and scan them with a tablet to verify whether the voter/ authorised representative is registered in respect of the subsector concerned and ascertain the types of ballot papers to be issued.

Mr Fung said the computer system is run by the polling staff to ascertain the eligibility of the people asking for the ballot paper and the subsector they are entitled to vote.

“It is operated by the polling staff - except that it used to be on paper and now it is (conducted) on the computer. It used to be that (the staff) had to cross the name of the voter after the issue of a (ballot). Now it will be done by the computer automatically.”

To ensure accuracy of issuing ballot papers, the voter/authorised representative may check their names, partial identity card number and types of ballot papers issued as shown on the screen of the system during the issuance process.

“As for the voters, he or she will have another tablet in front of him or her, so that they can look at the basic information and confirm ‘yes, that is me, that is alright’.”

Considering that the number of registered voters of the 2021 ECSS Ordinary Elections has been reduced to about 8,000, the commission has decided to shorten the polling hours from between 7.30am and 10.30pm to between 9am and 6pm.

“We have taken the advice of the Legislative Council that it is clear that 15 hours would be too much and hence not an efficient use of public resources. So we reduced the polling hours for the smaller electorate.”

As regards the queuing arrangement, presiding officers may set up two queues outside the polling stations, one for the ordinary voters/ authorised representatives and the other for people in need including seniors, those with difficulties in standing for a long time due to their physical condition and pregnant women.

Click here for the guidelines.