Hong Kong's recent Legislative Council election recorded a historic high of 41,147 spoiled votes, amounting to 3.12% of total votes cast. Constitutional affairs chief Erick Tsang Kwok-wai rejected suggestions that this resulted from pressure on voters, instead pointing to errors in ballot marking.
Last Sunday's Hong Kong Legislative Council election had a turnout of 31.9%, a slight increase from the record low of 30.2% in the 2021 poll. However, invalid votes surged, with 41,147 spoiled ballots making up 3.12% of the total, compared to 27,453 (2.03%) in 2021.
The government had launched an extensive campaign to boost participation until it was halted by last month's deadly inferno. Businesses offered incentives, including half-day paid leave and transport subsidies, to encourage voting. Erick Tsang Kwok-wai dismissed claims that the rise in spoiled votes stemmed from coerced participation, stating that "the void votes could have been due to voters mistakenly choosing more candidates than required," and authorities plan to enhance measures to prevent such errors.
Officials may revisit the introduction of 'smart ballot boxes' to minimize mistakes in marking papers. The issue has sparked discussions on the voting process, though the government insists it is not linked to public pressure.
