The Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election announced the locations of the 36 polling venues for the upcoming Legislative Assembly Election.
One of the 36 venues will contain two polling stations, thus making available a total of 37 polling stations in the election. The vote for the indirect election will be held in a single venue – Macao Polytechnic Institute – which will accommodate five polling stations for the purpose.
All polling stations will be open from 9am to 9pm on election day, 12 September. Detailed information about polling stations – in Macao’s official languages, Chinese and Portuguese – is available on the Commission’s website: https://www.eal.gov.mo.
The Commission made the announcement about the polling venues on Wednesday (7 July), following publication of Executive Order No. 93/2021 on Monday. The Executive Order stipulates that polling venues must be located within the Macao SAR, which is made of Macao peninsula, Taipa island and Coloane island.
The aggregate number of voting venues for the election – i.e., for the direct and indirect processes – remains the same as for the 2017 election, although the number of eligible voters increased by 5.92 percent during the intervening period.
According to the Legislative Assembly Election Law, factors for the Commission to consider when selecting a polling venue include: convenience of access for voters; the venue’s capacity; and its safety. Venue facilities should be easily accessible, with suitable arrangements at those places to cater for the requirements of elderly voters and those with special needs. For the purpose of epidemic control, the Commission has carefully evaluated each polling venue, to ensure there is sufficient space to maintain the necessary social distance between people, when voters wait to cast their ballots, and that there is efficient ventilation on site.
The Commission will assign each voter a polling station based on their current address as of 31 May. A notice will be sent to each voter – a process starting in August – informing them of the location of their respective polling station. Voters also have the option of enquiring directly about the location of their respective polling station, either via the Government’s self-service kiosks; or via the “My Government Account of Macao SAR” online platform; or by telephone, on 2891 2912.