The 2018 Voter Registration Campaign was launched today (January 15). There is no need for registered electors to register again, but they are reminded to fulfil their civic responsibility by notifying the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) of any changes in residential address or other registration particulars by April 2, the statutory deadline for change of registration particulars.

     "Starting from February 1, electors applying for change of registered address are required to submit address proof at the same time. This will facilitate the REO's verification of the accuracy of the electors' address information, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the registers of electors. Electors should use the new application form (as in attachment 1) for change of registration particulars.

     "To assist electors, those who are registered tenants of public rental housing under the Housing Department (HD) or the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) will be exempted from the requirement for submitting address proof when they apply for change of registered addresses. The REO will check with the HD and the HKHS to verify the address information of the electors concerned in the latest tenancy records. As regards the details of the exemption from the address proof requirement, as well as the acceptable types of address proof and related arrangements, please refer to the guidance notes in application form," a spokesman for the REO said.

     Eligible persons who have yet to register as electors are reminded to sign up by May 2, the statutory deadline for new registration, so that their registration particulars can be included in the final register to be released in July this year. Hong Kong permanent residents holding an identity document who have reached 18 years of age and are ordinarily residing in Hong Kong are eligible to register as electors. When registering as an elector, the applicant will also become an elector in the District Council (Second) Functional Constituency, commonly known as the Super District Council. Please refer to attachment 2 for the application form for new registration.

     According to electoral law, newly registered electors can only vote in the constituencies that they belong to in the public elections held after the publication of the final registers of electors. In other words, persons who have not yet been included in the 2017 final register cannot vote in the Legislative Council by-election to be held in March this year.

     "In addition to residential addresses, electors should also provide their telephone numbers and email addresses to the REO, so that the REO can contact them more promptly and efficiently if necessary, and they may receive election mail from candidates via email," the spokesman said.

     The Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) of the Voter Registration Campaign will run on television, radio and the Internet from today. Promotional messages will also be displayed in newspapers, on popular websites, in mobile applications, at bus stops, and in MTR stations and MTR compartments across the territory.

     The REO will issue appeal letters and promotional flyers to households that have moved to newly completed residential estates to remind them to report their new residential addresses or apply for registration. The REO will also set up registration counters at the five Registration of Persons Offices of the Immigration Department to assist and encourage young people applying for or collecting adult identity cards at those offices to register as electors.

     Members of the public can check their registration status and registration particulars at any time by logging in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) or calling the REO's hotline (2891 1001).

     Application forms for new registration and change of registration particulars can be obtained from the REO, District Offices and the management offices of public housing estates. They can also be downloaded from the voter registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk).

     Completed forms can be submitted by mail to the REO at 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, by fax to 2891 1180 or by email to form@reo.gov.hk.

     For enquiries, please call the REO's hotline (2891 1001).

Ends/Monday, January 15, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:01

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