選舉觀察計劃資訊頻道

s were basically the same. None of the messages mentioned ‘democracy’ or ‘democratic development’. From the perspective of electioneering, the overall quality of electoral competition was compromised when candidates were seen to have avoided politically sensitive topics throughout their campaigns and to present almost identical policy platforms from subsector to subsector.
Against this background, the EC elections became highly homogenous. Without mutual monitoring between campaign teams, it was found that many candidates alongside their campaign teams had conducted electoral activities with voters in the Non-canvassing Zones (NCZ) and on the premises where the polling stations were, such as greeting and thanking voters and taking photos themselves and with voters. Such irregularities and violations of non-compliance of the NCZ ensued from the lack of self-discipline, weak enforcement of the regulations by the electoral management body, as well as the political homogeneity of the teams of candidates.
Surveys conducted by the EOP team on the polling day in the vicinity of the polling stations discovered that there were significant differences of views on the election between the candidates and the ordinary residents who have no business in this election. Despite the highest ever level of voter turnout on the polling day, and despite the government’s unreserved endorsement of the new electoral methods, most Hong Kong people remained convinced and unimpressed. After all, Hong Kong has long embraced the ideal of having free and fair elections which promote political competition between uncensored political opinions.
While the 2021 EC elections have clearly failed to meet any standards of a free and fair election, EOP has carried out a systematic study in order to put forward the following recommendations for improvement:
1. The Registration and Electoral Office has adhered its antiquated practices which impose excessive restrictions with respect to public access to and inspection of the voter registration. Journalists have had to spend extra time and efforts to overcome such legal and administrative requirements as “time-limits per visit” and “no re-production of the information in any form on the spot” before they could gather enough data and information for their news stories. EOP advises the Electoral Affairs Commission and the Registration and Electoral Office to review the unhelpful regulations and practices, and replace them with a direct and simple mechanism for public access to the information of voter registration, as well as nomination forms of candidates, in order to enable members of the public, journalists and researchers to conduct comprehensive study into the EC elections. The authorities should introduce an online voter information enquiry system to allow wider access to the basic information of individual and corporate voters.
2. The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee disqualified two nominees for the Election Committee. Reasons were formally given, and no appeal was allowed. EOP urges the Committee to review the current practice, specifically to fully disclose the reasons behind the negative decisions, and allow the disqualified candidates to lodge an appeal.
3. The Registration and Electoral Office should take initiate to remind and inform candidates and relevant parties of the regulations related to the non-canvassing zones, enhancing their knowledge of the Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the Election Committee Subsector Elections and Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Election Committee) Regulation (Cap.541I).
4. The electoral management authorities responsible for the 2021 EC elections did not give permission to any persons or organisations to conduct Exit Poll on the polling day. EOP is disappointed that its application to do so was rejected by the authorities, citing the pandemic and public health as primary concerns. with the decisions of rejection of inspecting polling stations and supporting training programs of observers. We urge the Re

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374 viewsOct 19, 2021 at 05:51

s were basically the same. None of the messages mentioned ‘democracy’ or ‘democratic development’. From the perspective of electioneering, the overall quality of electoral competition was compromised when candidates were seen to have avoided politically sensitive topics throughout their campaigns and to present almost identical policy platforms from subsector to subsector.
Against this background, the EC elections became highly homogenous. Without mutual monitoring between campaign teams, it was found that many candidates alongside their campaign teams had conducted electoral activities with voters in the Non-canvassing Zones (NCZ) and on the premises where the polling stations were, such as greeting and thanking voters and taking photos themselves and with voters. Such irregularities and violations of non-compliance of the NCZ ensued from the lack of self-discipline, weak enforcement of the regulations by the electoral management body, as well as the political homogeneity of the teams of candidates.
Surveys conducted by the EOP team on the polling day in the vicinity of the polling stations discovered that there were significant differences of views on the election between the candidates and the ordinary residents who have no business in this election. Despite the highest ever level of voter turnout on the polling day, and despite the government’s unreserved endorsement of the new electoral methods, most Hong Kong people remained convinced and unimpressed. After all, Hong Kong has long embraced the ideal of having free and fair elections which promote political competition between uncensored political opinions.
While the 2021 EC elections have clearly failed to meet any standards of a free and fair election, EOP has carried out a systematic study in order to put forward the following recommendations for improvement:
1. The Registration and Electoral Office has adhered its antiquated practices which impose excessive restrictions with respect to public access to and inspection of the voter registration. Journalists have had to spend extra time and efforts to overcome such legal and administrative requirements as “time-limits per visit” and “no re-production of the information in any form on the spot” before they could gather enough data and information for their news stories. EOP advises the Electoral Affairs Commission and the Registration and Electoral Office to review the unhelpful regulations and practices, and replace them with a direct and simple mechanism for public access to the information of voter registration, as well as nomination forms of candidates, in order to enable members of the public, journalists and researchers to conduct comprehensive study into the EC elections. The authorities should introduce an online voter information enquiry system to allow wider access to the basic information of individual and corporate voters.
2. The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee disqualified two nominees for the Election Committee. Reasons were formally given, and no appeal was allowed. EOP urges the Committee to review the current practice, specifically to fully disclose the reasons behind the negative decisions, and allow the disqualified candidates to lodge an appeal.
3. The Registration and Electoral Office should take initiate to remind and inform candidates and relevant parties of the regulations related to the non-canvassing zones, enhancing their knowledge of the Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the Election Committee Subsector Elections and Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Election Committee) Regulation (Cap.541I).
4. The electoral management authorities responsible for the 2021 EC elections did not give permission to any persons or organisations to conduct Exit Poll on the polling day. EOP is disappointed that its application to do so was rejected by the authorities, citing the pandemic and public health as primary concerns. with the decisions of rejection of inspecting polling stations and supporting training programs of observers. We urge the Re

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