Key facts
- Hong Kong election authorities have stopped compiling voter turnout data by age and sex.
- The stated reason for discontinuing the data compilation is a lack of operational need.
- Analysts and politicians believe this move reduces transparency and hinders understanding of voter demographics.
- The Registration and Electoral Office previously disclosed such data routinely since at least 2008.
- The Office of the Ombudsman found no improprieties in the handling of a request for this data.
Hong Kong election authorities have ceased the practice of compiling and disclosing voter turnout data broken down by age and sex, a move that has drawn criticism from analysts and politicians who argue it undermines transparency. The Registration and Electoral Office stated that it no longer sees an operational need for such statistics, which had been routinely published since at least 2008. The South China Morning Post had requested the data from last year's Legislative Council election. Following the decision to stop compiling the data, the newspaper approached the Office of the Ombudsman. However, the Ombudsman's office concluded that there were no improprieties in how the request was handled, stating that each case is judged on its own merits and comparisons with previous instances were inappropriate. Analysts and politicians have voiced concerns that the lack of demographic data makes it harder for election hopefuls to understand voter bases and tailor policy proposals, and for authorities to improve governance.