Voter registration for 2012 to end on May 16
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     The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (May 4) reminded eligible persons who have not yet registered as electors to submit their applications on or before the registration deadline on May 16, so that they can vote in the Legislative Council Election in September this year.

     "Hong Kong permanent residents holding identity documents who have reached 18 years of age and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong are eligible to be registered as electors," an REO spokesman said.

     "Registered electors do not need to register again. But it is their civic duty to report any changes in residential addresses or other registration particulars to the REO by June 29," he said.

     With a view to enhancing the accuracy of the information recorded in the voter register, since early this year the REO has issued inquiry letters to about 290 000 electors requesting them to confirm whether they are still residing in the addresses as registered in the current final register of electors by providing proof of their present residential addresses.

     "If the REO does not receive replies from these electors by the deadline in mid-May, their names will be deleted from the 2012 provisional register of electors and be included in the omissions list, which will be published on or before June 15 this year," the spokesman said.

     "Unless the electors included in the omissions list lodge claims or update their registered addresses by June 29 and are subsequently approved by the Revising Officer, their names will not be included in the 2012 final register of electors and they will not be eligible to cast votes in the subsequent elections, including the Legislative Council Election to be held in September," he said.

     To save paper and protect the environment, electors are encouraged to provide or update their email addresses, which will be provided to the candidates concerned for sending election advertisements.

     Forms for voter registration or reporting changes in registration particulars are available from the REO, District Offices and the management offices of public housing estates. They can also be downloaded from the voter registration website at www.voterregistration.gov.hk.

     Completed forms can be mailed to the REO at 10/F, Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, or faxed to 2891 1180.

     For enquiries, please call 2891 1001.

Ends/Friday, May 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:00

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