Extra polling stations, longer voting hours to boost Hong Kong election turnout

Hong Kong will introduce four new types of designated polling stations to make it easier for civil servants, medical workers, ethnic minority groups and elderly and disabled residents in care homes to vote in the Legislative Council election, while voting will be extended by two hours to 11.30pm.

Announcing the moves on Friday, David Lok Kai-hong, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, said the new measures sought to address calls by society to help those working on election day who might be unable to reach their local polling stations in time.

To help the wider public, voting hours at all polling stations will also be extended, opening at 7.30am and closing at 11.30pm. Previously, voting was from 8.30am to 10.30pm.

Lok attributed the decision to extend opening times to the changing travel patterns of Hongkongers spending their holidays in mainland China.

On top of the 615 general polling stations, authorities would for the first time set up four new types of designated polling stations for the December 7 election, including 10 for civil servants and officers of disciplinary forces to allow them to vote and return to their posts as soon as possible, he said.

Seven polling stations will be set up near the city’s seven biggest hospitals to help medical workers cast their ballots, and another two in Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui for voters attending religious activities at the Khalsa Diwan and the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre.