The Electoral Affairs Commission will introduce Designated Polling Stations for electors with specific needs, and extend polling hours, under new polling arrangements for the 2025 Legislative Council General Election.

EAC Chairman David Lok outlined the new arrangements at a press conference today, explaining that they will facilitate the casting of votes and address the actual needs of electors.

The Registration & Electoral Office (REO) will set up 10 "Civil Servant Designated Polling Stations" for civil servants, seven "Hospital Authority Healthcare Staff Designated Polling Stations" near the seven largest hospitals, and two "Ethnic Minorities Designated Polling Stations" in the proximity of Wan Chai Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple and Kowloon Masjid.

Mr Lok said: "In recent years, we have heard views from different sectors of the community, including the Legislative Council, that electors who have to work on the polling day, due to their job nature, working hours and duty arrangements, etc, may not have sufficient time to, before or after work, or during meal breaks, travel to and from their allocated polling stations to cast their votes. These electors are therefore not able to exercise their right to vote.”

In addition, to better enable residents of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) to cast their votes of their own will in a familiar, safe and reassuring environment, the REO will set up "Outreach Polling Stations for Residential Care Homes" to serve 11 RCHEs and four RCHDs.

Moreover, in view of successful arrangements for the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election, Near Boundary Polling Stations (NBPSs) will be set up in Sheung Shui, as well as at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Passenger Clearance Building and Hong Kong International Airport. This will allow electors travelling to and from the Mainland and overseas, and those on duty at these places on the day of the election, to easily cast their votes

Regarding polling hours, the poll will start an hour earlier than in previous elections, at 7.30am, and end one hour later, at 11.30pm. This adds up to a total of 16 hours for votes to be cast.

Mr Lok also conducted a briefing for election candidates on the arrangements, the guidelines on election-related activities, and other important points. to ensure that the poll is conducted in an open, honest and fair manner.