The Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election said the polling process and vote counting for Sunday’s (24 November) by-election went smoothly.

At a briefing after polling closed at 9pm, the Commission Chairman, Mr Tong Hio Fong, said the preliminary results showed 822 ballots had been cast, from among a total of 920 eligible voters. It represented a voter turnout rate of approximately 89.35 percent.

Mr Wong Sai Man from “União dos Interesses Empresariais de Macau” received 813 ballots. There were five blank ballots and four ballots rendered invalid.

Sunday’s by-election relates to a seat allocated to the industrial, commercial and financial sector, under the indirect election portion of Macao’s electoral system.

According to procedures stipulated by law, the General Audit Committee for the Legislative Assembly By-election will review the votes and announce the verified result on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Tong said the Commission had received information regarding an instance of suspected campaigning on election day, which would be a violation of the Legislative Assembly Election Law. The Commission was gathering more information about this case and would pass it to the police for further follow up.

According to the Legislative Assembly Election Law, a candidate’s eligibility status could be reviewed via an emergency process in the cases when such candidate acted against his/her pledge to uphold the Macao Basic Law and allegiance to the Macao SAR, Mr Tong said. All candidates to the Legislative Assembly must submit a written declaration to the effect that the candidate will uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Macao SAR, according to Legislative Assembly Election Law.

The Commission Chairman stated that, at the present stage, election-related procedures would continue to be carried out as scheduled, including verification procedures and the elected candidate assuming the position as a member of the Legislative Assembly. If the concerned person was eventually found guilty of any criminal offence, the case would be handled by the Legislative Assembly according to its regulations.