The 2020 Voter Registration Campaign has been launched today (February 26). The campaign aims to remind registered electors to update their registration particulars with the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) in a timely manner and to encourage eligible persons to register as electors.
Change of registration particulars
The REO attaches great importance to the accuracy of the register of electors. If there are any changes in registration particulars of registered electors (individual or body electors), the electors concerned should, using the specified form, notify the REO on or before April 2 in accordance with the electoral law. Otherwise, the relevant changes in registration particulars will not be reflected in the final registers (i.e. final registers for geographical constituencies, functional constituencies and Election Committee subsectors) to be published in July this year.
Electors applying for a change of registered address are required to submit address proof at the same time to facilitate the REO in verifying the electors' address information. Electors who are registered tenants of public rental housing under the Housing Department or the Hong Kong Housing Society are exempted from the requirement of submitting address proof when they apply for change of registered addresses.
When applying for replacement of a Smart Identity Card, a registered elector may choose whether to give consent for the Immigration Department (ImmD) to transfer their personal particulars to the REO for verifying particulars on the registers of electors. As the verification and follow-up process takes time to complete, the REO recommends electors, when they give consent for the ImmD to transfer their personal particulars to the REO, to submit the specified forms for the applications for change of particulars as well, so as not to miss the statutory deadline of April 2 for change of registration particulars.
After verifying the relevant information, if the REO finds that the principal residential addresses of electors are different from those recorded in the registers of electors, the department will issue letters to the electors to request them to provide address proof for verifying and completing the applications for change of registered address. The REO reminds registered electors who have received letters from the REO to read the letter as soon as possible and follow the letter's instruction to respond before the deadline.
Encouraging eligible persons to register
The REO encourages Hong Kong permanent residents who hold an identity document, have reached age 18, are ordinarily residing in Hong Kong and have yet to register as an elector, to submit new registration applications using the specified form by the statutory deadline of May 2 so that they can be included in the final registers to be published in July this year and be able to vote in election(s) (including the Legislative Council General Election to be held this year). When registering as an elector, the person will also become an elector in the District Council (Second) Functional Constituency, commonly known as the "Super District Council".
The REO calls on electors to provide their telephone numbers and email addresses to the REO when submitting their applications so that the REO can contact them more promptly and efficiently if necessary. By doing so they may also receive election mail from candidates via email.
The Announcements in the Public Interest of the Voter Registration Campaign will run on television, radio and the Internet from today. Promotional messages will also be displayed on popular websites, in mobile applications, at bus stops, in MTR stations and other means of public transport. Promotional items such as banners and posters will also be placed at the exterior of government buildings and in all districts to encourage eligible persons to register as electors.
Members of the public can check at any time their registration status and registration particulars by logging into the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) or calling the REO hotline (2891 1001).
Application forms for new registration and change of registration particulars can be obtained from the REO, the 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 to the REO by post (13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay), by fax (2891 1180), by email (form@reo.gov.hk) or via the REO e-Form Upload Platform (www.reo-form.gov.hk).
The REO urged members of the public to submit applications for change of registration particulars, and new registration as early as possible. For enquiries, please call the REO hotline at 2891 1001.
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