More polling booths in September election

The Legislative Assembly Election Commission has decided to increase the number of polling booth in the September election to cater for the increase in the number of registered voters. After the Commission’s meeting today, Commission Chairman Judge Fong Man Chong said as some 60,000 new voters have been registered after the last Legislature election in 2001, the Commission has decided to increase the number of polling booth by between 50 to 60, on top of the 169 booths in previous election. He said most of the extra booths would be set up in the districts of Fatima and St. Anthony, which registered the biggest increase in registered voters. Polling stations would be set up in schools and stadiums as it was in the last election, Judge Fong said. The Commission would introduce measures to prevent anyone from using mobile phones to photograph records of ballots. It would also consider removing curtains in polling booths to prevent unlawful acts during the casting of votes, without compromising secrecy. The Commission would also consider adapting more measures to ensure secrecy in polling, Judge Fong added.