Authorities will look into regulating the act of organizing or inciting voters to cast blank or invalid votes during elections, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said.
These acts might affect the result of the elections, therefore it could constitute electoral fraud, he explained.
Speaking in a Legislative Council committee meeting yesterday, Tsang said one has the right to choose whether to cast his vote or not.
“However, if someone organizes, or incites other voters to cast blank or invalid votes, or even not to vote in future elections, their actions are to some extent attempts to rig an election,” Tsang told lawmakers.
“There is currently no local legislation regulating such behaviors, therefore we are looking into whether we need to impose appropriate regulatory legislation to fit the requirements in Annex I and II of the Basic Law,” he added.
This came after former lawmaker Sixtus Leung Chung-hang, who is currently on self-declared exile, drummed up the proposal overseas on Tuesday, calling on voters to cast invalid votes in the upcoming elections.
Speaking in a Legislative Council committee meeting yesterday, Tsang said one has the right to choose whether to cast his vote or not.
“However, if someone organizes, or incites other voters to cast blank or invalid votes, or even not to vote in future elections, their actions are to some extent attempts to rig an election,” Tsang told lawmakers.
“There is currently no local legislation regulating such behaviors, therefore we are looking into whether we need to impose appropriate regulatory legislation to fit the requirements in Annex I and II of the Basic Law,” he added.
This came after former lawmaker Sixtus Leung Chung-hang, who is currently on self-declared exile, drummed up the proposal overseas on Tuesday, calling on voters to cast invalid votes in the upcoming elections.