Macau, China, Aug. 26, 2025 (Lusa) - Public transport will be free in Macau on 14 September, the day of the local parliament elections, the chairman of the electoral commission said on Tuesday, to prevent abstention after the disqualification of two lists.
"On election day, 14 September, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., all passengers will be able to use public buses and the Light Rail free of charge," said Seng Ioi Man.
The decision was taken "to make it easier for voters to exercise their right to vote," said the chairman of the Legislative Assembly's Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL) after a meeting of the body.
Seng said that the commission had taken "as a reference the organisation of the elections for the 2nd Legislative Assembly" in 2001 and the 25th anniversary of Macau's transition of administration from Portugal to China, celebrated on 20 December.
The magistrate also suggested that employers make transport available to workers on 14 September, "so that they can exercise their vote".
"Both public and private services (...) have an obligation to ensure that these workers can travel to the polling station to vote," added the president of the electoral commission.
In addition, on the eve of the vote, on 13 September, CAEAL will carry out, in series with public services, three "information activities in the community", added the magistrate.
The aim, Mr Seng explained, is to "appeal to voters in a diverse way to go to the polling stations" and to remind them of "the importance of voting through recreational and cultural shows".
The commission president expressed confidence in the vote, recalling that the electoral campaign, which starts on 30 August, will not have the "many restrictions" imposed on the last vote in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Seng recalled that according to the new electoral law, in force since April 2024, "anyone who publicly incites voters not to vote, to vote blank or null, is punished with a prison sentence of up to three years".
Five years ago, Macau recorded the highest abstention rate since the Chinese region was created (57.6%) and more than 5,200 people voted blank or null, after the electoral commission excluded five lists and 21 candidates, 15 of whom were pro-democracy.
This year, six lists are running for the Legislative Assembly by direct vote, eight fewer than in 2021 and the lowest number since 1988, when there were only five deputies chosen by direct vote.
In July, the State Security Defence Commission excluded all 12 candidates from two lists, deeming them "not defenders of the Basic Law [Macau's “mini-Constitution”] or not loyal" to the region.
Seng Ioi Man refused at the time to reveal the facts that led to the exclusion, arguing that this could "pose certain risks to national security".
VQ/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
