Sign in Subscribe
Political parties

Record-Breaking Voter Turnout Expected in Hong Kong's Legislative Council Election

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A record-breaking number of voters will cast their ballots in today's Legislative Council election, despite concerns that the Democratic Party's share of the vote may slip due to the prostitution scandal involving its candidate Alex Ho Wai-to. According to a poll commissioned by the Sunday Morning Post, 85.3% of 520 people interviewed on Friday plan to vote, with pollster Robert Chung Ting-yiu predicting a turnout of 52-57%, potentially surpassing the 1998 record of 53%. The election comes after two historic July 1 marches and the landslide defeat for the pro-government camp in the district council elections in November.

Key Takeaways:

  • A record-breaking 85.3% of respondents to the poll commissioned by the Sunday Morning Post plan to vote in today's Legislative Council election.
  • Pollster Robert Chung Ting-yiu predicts a turnout of 52-57%, potentially surpassing the 1998 record of 53%.
  • 178 people declined to disclose who they would vote for, with 38.9% stating they would vote for the pro-democracy camp and 30% remaining undecided.
  • 64.7% of respondents said the detention of Alex Ho would not change their intention to vote for the pro-democracy camp, while 14.6% said it made them less likely to vote for the camp.
  • 35.8% believed it would be good for Hong Kong and its relations with the mainland if a democratic majority were returned in the Legco.
  • 13.2% of respondents said the election campaign enhanced their belief in democracy, while 66.7% said it made no difference either way.

Statistics:

  • 85.3% of 520 people interviewed on Friday plan to vote in today's Legislative Council election.
  • Pollster Robert Chung Ting-yiu predicts the turnout will reach 52-57%.
  • The record-breaking turnout compares to 43.5% in 2000 and 53% in 1998.
  • 178 people declined to disclose who they would vote for.
  • 38.9% stated they would vote for the pro-democracy camp.
  • 30% remained undecided.
  • 10.7% said they would vote for the pro-Beijing camp.
  • 6.7% said they would vote for the Liberal Party.
  • 13.5% said they would vote for independent candidates.
  • 14.6% said the detention of Alex Ho made them less likely to vote for the pro-democracy camp.
  • 5.7% said the detention made them more likely to vote for the camp.

Sources:

  • "Exclusive eve-of-poll survey carried out for the Sunday Morning Post"
  • University of Hong Kong's Public Opinion Programme
  • Sunday Morning Post
  • Robert Chung Ting-yiu, pollster
  • Electoral Affairs Commission
  • Stephen Lam Sui-lung, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

Read more