Record-low voter turnout for Macau elections after opposition ban – will Hong Kong’s polls see same fate?
- Political race also marks surge in blank and invalidated ballots, seen as a protest gesture
- Officials in casino hub blame low numbers on bad weather and coronavirus pandemic
A record-low number of voters showed up for Macau’s legislative elections this year, with the polls marking a surge in blank and invalid ballots, some of which contained vulgarities, seen as a protest gesture against the banning of 21 opposition figures from the race.
The city’s electoral officials blamed the 42.38 per cent turnout on bad weather and the Covid-19 pandemic, while critics warned of coming social instability with a lack of opposition voices in the legislature. The situation also sparked predictions that it offered a preview of what was in store when Hong Kong held its own legislative elections later this year.
Official data showed 137,281 of Macau’s 323,907 registered voters had cast their ballot for the direct elections on Sunday. This year’s modest turnout compared with 57.22 per cent in the last general polls in 2017 and was also the lowest since Macau returned to Chinese rule in 1999.
The 2009 elections saw the highest voter turnout at 59.91 per cent. Before Sunday’s polls, the lowest mark was in 2001, at 52.34 per cent.
There were 3,141 blank votes and 2,082 invalid ones, according to authorities. This compared with 944 and 1,300 blank and invalid votes respectively in the last round.