Offering perks to boost voter turnout is lawful, says Ronny Tong

Veteran barrister Ronny Tong Ka-wah has clarified that providing incentives to encourage citizens to vote in the upcoming Legislative Council election does not violate the law, while offering rewards to vote for specific candidates may constitute electoral fraud.

Speaking on a radio program, Tong explained that the Elections Ordinance stipulates that giving benefits to dissuade people from voting, or to induce them not to vote for a particular candidate, amounts to corrupt conduct.

However, he said encouraging people to vote is consistent with civic rights and responsibilities and helps enhance the representativeness of the Legislative Council.

He described such incentives as an internationally recognized practice, noting that governments in countries such as Canada and the United States have offered similar measures to boost voter participation.

Tong also said it is lawful for companies to require proof of voting before offering flexible work arrangements to employees, as photography is prohibited at polling stations and employers need a way to confirm who has cast their vote.

He added that offering incentives simply aims to promote the election and increase turnout, and would not distort public perception of the electoral process.