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About 2.96 million registered electors in 364 constituencies will receive poll cards reminding them where and how to vote in the 2007 District Council Election.
Polling will be held on November 18 (Sunday), from 7.30am to 10.30pm.
The Registration and Electoral Office has mailed to every elector a poll card, a map indicating the location of the designated polling station, a guide on voting procedure, a leaflet from the Independent Commission Against Corruption on clean and fair elections and a leaflet introducing the candidates in their respective constituencies.
"If electors have not received the materials, they can make enquiries through the election hotline at 2891 1001," a spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office said today (November 8).
The spokesman said voting was very simple. There are five steps to cast a vote:
* Bring your Hong Kong Identity Card or other identity document to your designated polling station;
* You will receive a ballot paper and a paperboard attached to a chop bearing a "tick";
* When you mark the ballot paper in the voting compartment, please use the chop to stamp a "tick" in the circle opposite the name of the candidate of your choice;
* Fold the ballot paper once so that the marked side is inside; and
* Put the ballot paper into the ballot box and return the paperboard with the chop to a member of the polling staff.
"Under no circumstances should an elector use a pen or other means to mark or correct the ballot paper or else it will be treated as invalid. If an elector makes any mistake in marking the ballot paper, he should return it to the Presiding Officer and ask for a replacement ballot paper," the spokesman said.
The location map enclosed with the poll card specifies clearly whether the polling station is accessible to electors with mobility difficulty. Most of the polling stations are accessible to disabled persons. An elector with a disability finding it difficult to access his designated polling station can apply for re-allocation to another polling station.
"Applications for re-allocation to another polling station should be made to the Registration and Electoral Office by telephone (2891 1001) or facsimile (2891 1180) on or before November 13," the spokesman said.
Among the 405 constituencies in the 18 Districts, candidates in 41 constituencies have been elected unopposed. The remaining 364 seats will be contested by 866 candidates.
The 336,874 electors in the uncontested constituencies will not have to vote. They will receive a notice of uncontested nomination and a leaflet introducing the elected candidate of their respective constituency.
Ends/Thursday, November 8, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:22
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