The Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) announced yesterday that rides on public buses and on the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) will be free for all passengers on polling day of the upcoming direct and indirect legislative elections, September 14, with the aim of making it “more convenient” for voters to visit polling stations to cast their ballots, as part of its efforts to encourage more voters to exercise their voting rights.
CAEAL President Seng Ioi Man made the remarks while speaking to reporters after chairing a regular closed-door meeting of the commission at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo.
Seng underlined that his commission has decided that all passengers will be given free rides on public buses and the LRT on polling day of the 2025 direct and indirect legislative elections after “referencing” similar arrangements implemented on polling day of the direct and indirect elections in 2001 as well as on the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland on December 20 last year, passengers did not have to pay fares on the city’s public buses and LRT train rides that day.
On polling day of the 2001 direct and indirect elections, the first held after the establishment of the MSAR on December 20, 1999, registered voters could take free rides on public buses after showing the drivers their voter registration cards, and this measure was implemented again in the direct and indirect elections in 2005.
The legal requirement for registered voters to present their voter registration cards when casting their ballots was abolished for the 2009 direct and indirect elections. Since then, registered voters have only had to present their ID cards when casting their ballots.
Meanwhile, Seng also said yesterday that his commission will roll out a new measure aiming to make it more convenient for voters to cast their ballots, according to which various electoral service posts will be set up and run in different districts across the city on polling day, where voters can ask staff to check their designated polling stations. The service posts will be open between 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The polling stations will be open between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
In addition, according to Seng, the electoral service posts will also arrange for transportation to be provided for voters in special need, taking them to their designated polling stations.
Meanwhile, Seng also reaffirmed that on the first day of the two-week official election campaign period for the upcoming direct and indirect elections, his commission will hold a ceremony marking the electioneering period’s formal start while also enabling the different candidacy groups to publicise their political platforms at the same time.
In the run-up to polling day on September 14, the 14-day official election campaign period will run from August 30 to September 12. No electioneering is allowed on the eve of polling day and on polling day.
More specifically, the campaign period will start at 00:00 on Saturday, August 30 and end at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 12.
No ceremony was held marking the official start of the campaign period for the direct and indirect elections four years ago as Macau was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at that time.
A ceremony was held marking the official start of the campaign period for the 2017 direct and indirect legislative elections.
Seng said yesterday that the ceremony will be held in Praça do Tap Seac at 9:30 a.m. on the first day of the two-week election campaign period.
Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) President Seng Ioi Man (3rd from right) addresses yesterday’s press briefing at the Public Administration Building, flanked by fellow commission members (from left to right) Louie Wong Lok I, Mak Kim Meng, Lai U Hou, Ng Wai Han, and Daisy Ho In Mui. – Photo: GCS
