The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election, Mr Tong Hio Fong, speaks to reporters.
The Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election today stressed that a number of convicted inmates held in Coloane Prison were entitled to vote in Sunday’s election.
Speaking to reporters today during a visit to Coloane Prison, the Commission Chairman, Mr Tong Hio Fong, said that – according to law – all qualified voters that have not lost their political rights were eligible to cast their ballot.
A total of 279 inmates held in Coloane Prison – and one person held in the Youth Correctional Institution – are legally entitled to cast their vote for the direct election for the Legislative Assembly. The voter turnout rate at the prison polling station has been between 80 and 90 percent.
The standard of the polling facilities, voting procedures and opening hours of the polling station at Coloane Prison are similar to those of the other 41 polling stations set up across the city. All campaigning materials – including videos and election manifestos of all the competing election teams – that are made available to the general public during the official campaigning period are also displayed inside the prison.
During today’s press briefing, Mr Tong issued a general reminder that campaigning activities were prohibited during the compulsory cooling-off period on Saturday, and on election day itself, Sunday (17 September).
The Commission had issued a guideline – titled “3/CAEAL/2017” – requesting the removal of all campaigning material before the end of Friday. That included all campaigning material posted – either outdoors or indoors – in venues opened to the public. Any infringement of the guideline would render those involved accountable for the crime of disobedience.
Mr Tong added that the removal of material included information posted online.
The Chairman reminded the public that voters should turn off their mobile phones, and any other sound and/or image recording devices, before entering a polling station.
Reviewing the official campaigning period, Mr Tong said the campaigning activities of all election teams during the past two weeks were generally conducted in an orderly manner. He added that the Commission had requested the removal of any campaigning material displayed on streets and public venues – except materials displayed in areas designated for that purpose – as to ensure fairness between election teams.
Regarding pre-election polls, Mr Tong said such polls were allowed but results should not be released before the day after election day. He urged members of the public to pay close attention to personal data protection when participating in such polls.