Election Brief

Election Committee Brief

• Functions: The Election Committee (“EC”) is responsible for nominating Chief Executive (“CE”) candidates and electing the CE; nominating Legislative Council (“LegCo”) candidates and electing 40 LegCo members.

• Term: The term of each EC is 5 years. For the coming EC, the term of office will commence on 1 February 2027 and end on 31 January 2032.

• Composition: 1 500 members from the following five sectors, each comprising a number of subsectors (with a total of 40 subsectors) –

  First Sector:	Industrial, commercial and financial sectors
  Second Sector:	The professions
  Third Sector:	Grassroots, labour, religious and other sectors
  Fourth Sector:	Members of the Legislative Council and representatives of district organisations and other organisations
  Fifth Sector:	Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) deputies to the National People’s Congress (“NPC”), HKSAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (“CPPCC”) and representatives of Hong Kong members of relevant national organisations

[For details, please refer to Section 2 of the Schedule to the Chief Executive Election Ordinance (“CEEO”).]

Methods for Returning EC Members

There are three methods for returning EC members:

1. Ex-officio members – Registered by holders of the specified offices of the subsectors

   The subsectors with ex-officio members and their respective numbers are as follows:

   Subsectors	Number of Ex-officio Members
   Architectural, surveying, planning and landscape	15
   Education	16
   Engineering	15
   Legal	6
   Medical and health services	15
   Social welfare	15
   Members of the LegCo	90
   NPC deputies and CPPCC members	1901
   Total	3622

   [For details, please refer to Annex I to the Basic Law and Section 2 of the Schedule to the CEEO.]

2. EC Members returned through nomination – nominated by the designated bodies of the subsectors

   Subsectors	Number of Members to be Nominated
   Accountancy	15
   Chinese medicine	15
   Legal	9
   Sports, performing arts, culture and publication	15
   Technology and innovation	15
   Religious	60
   Representatives of associations of Hong Kong residents in the Mainland	27
   Total	156

3. EC Members returned through election – elected by eligible corporate or individual voters in the subsectors

Registration of Ex-officio Members

• All persons holding the specified offices of the subsectors (i.e. specified persons) are required to submit registration forms to the Electoral Registration Officer and the validity of their registration will be determined by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (“CERC”). Generally speaking, specified persons may be registered as the ex-officio members of that subsector. However, under the following circumstances, the specified persons may designate another person (i.e. designated person) who is holding an office in a relevant body to be registered as the ex-officio member of that subsector:
  1. the specified person is ineligible to be registered as ex-officio member, including:
     • he is not registered as an elector (or has not made an application to be so registered) under the Legislative Council Ordinance (Cap. 542) (“LCO”) in the existing Geographical Constituencies final register or is disqualified from being registered as an elector for a Geographical Constituency; or
     • he is a principal official appointed pursuant to a nomination under Article 48(5) of the Basic Law; a directorate officer of the Government; an Administrative Officer of the Government; an Information Officer of the Government; a police officer; or any other civil servant who is holding a specified office in his or her official capacity; or
  2. the specified person is holding more than one specified office, except for the subsector the substitution arrangement of which is already specified in the law or non-applicable subsectors. [For details, please refer to Sections 5J(3), 5J(4) and 5L of the Schedule to the CEEO.]
• A specified person or designated person may not become an EC member through nomination or election. A specified person would be deemed to have resigned from the EC if he or she no longer holds the relevant specified office. Each person may only be registered as the ex-officio member of one subsector. [For details, please refer to Sections 3 and 5J of the Schedule to the CEEO.]

Eligibility to be nominated as a Candidate / Nominee

• To be eligible for nomination as a candidate/nominee, a person must –

  Candidate3 (EC Members returned through election)	Nominee4 (EC Members returned through nomination)
  Reach 18 years of age
  Be both registered and eligible to be registered as an elector for a Geographical Constituency
  Be both registered and eligible to be registered as a voter for the relevant EC subsector or have a substantial connection with the EC subsector	Have a substantial connection with the EC subsector

Arrangement for Nomination (For EC Members returned by nomination)

• Each relevant designated body nominates its selected eligible persons to become its representatives in the EC;
• If the number of nominees is in excess of the number of seats assigned to the designated body, the designated body should indicate which of the nominees are to be given preference in making up the assigned number; and rank the excess nominees, if more than one, in order of priority. If the designated body does not indicate which nominees are to be given preference, then the Returning Officer should determine the order of priority of those nominees by drawing lots;
• The CERC is to determine whether or not the nominees are validly nominated in accordance with the order of priority indicated in the nomination form or as determined by the Returning Officer by drawing lots until the number of seats assigned to the designated body are all filled; and
• The CERC should declare the nominees who are validly nominated as the members of the EC in accordance with the regulations.

Arrangement for Nomination (For EC Members returned through election)

• Each candidate shall be nominated by at least five corporate or individual voters in the respective subsector.
• Each corporate or individual voter may only nominate a number of candidates not exceeding the number of seats to be elected in the respective subsectors in the elections.

Nomination Period

• Nomination period: 7 to 20 October 2026
• Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Registration and Electoral Office website (www.reo.gov.hk), or collected free of charge at the following offices:
  • District Offices; or
  • Office of the Returning Officers; or
  • Offices of the Registration and Electoral Office (8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon or Unit 2301-03, 23/F, Millennium City 6, 392 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon).

[For details, please refer to Sections 4 and 8(12) of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Election Committee) Regulation.]

Polling Arrangement for 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections

Polling day: 22 November 2026 (Sunday)

Polling hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (The polling hours of dedicated polling station(s) to be set up at the penal institutions (if any) are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Where to Vote

• Each voter or authorized representative will be assigned to a designated ordinary polling station to cast his/her vote(s).
• A voter or an authorized representative will receive a poll card showing information about the designated polling station at least five days before the polling day.
• All ordinary polling stations are accessible to persons who are wheelchair users or have mobility difficulty.
• Voter or authorized representative in custody will be arranged to vote at a dedicated polling station in a penal institution, police station or other suitable venues as appropriate.
• If voters need assistance in interpreting the information on voting, they can call the Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents (“CHEER”) through the following hotline from 9 to 13 November 2026 and from 16 to 22 November 2026:

  Language	Hotline No.
  Bahasa Indonesia	3755 6811
  Hindi	3755 6877
  Nepali	3755 6822
  Punjabi	3755 6844
  Tagalog	3755 6855
  Thai	3755 6866
  Urdu	3755 6833
  Vietnamese	3755 6888

How to Vote

• A voter or an authorized representative is required to bring along the original of his/her valid Hong Kong Identity Card (“HKID card”) or other specified alternative document(s) (please refer to the section “Document(s) Required for Collecting a Ballot Paper” below for details) to his/her designated polling station(s) as shown on the poll card on 22 November 2026 (Sunday) during the polling hours (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and present it to the polling staff inside the polling station.
• The polling staff will use a tablet of the Electronic Poll Register (EPR) System to scan the valid HKID card to check whether he/she is a voter and/or an authorized representative of related subsector(s), and the number of ballot paper(s) he/she is entitled to. After verification, the polling staff will record the issuance in the EPR System and issue the ballot paper(s) to the voter or authorized representative.
• After collection of ballot paper(s), the voter or authorized representative should follow the instructions given by polling staff and printed on the ballot paper(s) and on the notices inside the voting compartment. The voter or authorized representative should mark the ballot paper(s) inside a voting compartment by himself/herself. In gist, please:
  • shade the ovals opposite the names of the candidates of his/her choice with the pen provided;
  • vote for no more than the prescribed number of seats in the relevant subsector (that number will be shown on the ballot paper); and
  • put the ballot paper, unfolded, into the ballot box with the marked side facing down.
• Each voting compartment should be used by one voter or authorized representative at any one time. Based on the principles of the autonomy of voting and secrecy of votes, it is prohibited under the law to have anyone (even if he/she is the voter’s/authorized representative’s relative or friend) to accompany or assist the voter to cast his/her vote.
• Voters or authorized representatives who are unable to cast their votes on their own can, in accordance with the law, seek help from the Presiding Officer or the deputy to mark the ballot papers on their behalf according to their voting choice. The whole process will be witnessed by another polling staff to ensure that the voting will be conducted in a fair manner.
• If a voter or an authorized representative makes an error in marking a ballot paper or has inadvertently spoiled a ballot paper, he/she may return the ballot paper to the Presiding Officer and ask for a replacement.
• A voter or an authorized representative may use the ballot paper checking machine provided at the polling station voluntarily to scan the marked ballot paper in order to check whether it has been marked according to the electoral law. The system will not record or count the choice(s) marked on the ballot paper by the voter or authorized representative. Based on the message displayed, the voter or authorized representative may choose to follow-up or to cast the ballot paper into the ballot box direct.

Document(s) Required for Collecting a Ballot Paper

• Under the prevailing legislation, a voter or an authorized representative applying for a ballot paper should produce the original of his/her valid HKID card or the following specified alternative document(s):
• the original of a valid HKSAR Passport; or
• the original of Certificate of Exemption; or
• the original of an acknowledgement of application for the HKID card; or
• the original of the person’s valid seaman’s identity book; or
• the original of the person’s valid document of identity for visa purposes; or
• a document evidencing a report to a police officer of the loss or destruction of the person’s HKID card or the Certificate of Exemption or the acknowledgement of application for the HKID card (commonly referred to as “a memo of lost property”), together with the original of a valid passport* or similar travel document (e.g. a passport other than the HKSAR Passport or the Home Return Permit) showing his/her name and photograph.
  * British National (Overseas) passport is not a valid travel document and proof of identity.

[For details, please refer to Section 50 of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Election Committee) Regulation (Cap. 541I).]

Special Queue for Voters in Need

• Only voters or authorized representatives are allowed entry into a polling station to vote.
• Under the "fair and equal treatment" principle, voters or authorized representatives must queue to vote. Voters or authorized representatives requiring assistance from others for entering into a polling station may make a request to the Presiding Officer.
• If the Presiding Officer is satisfied that a person who arrives at, or is present in, the polling station to vote falls within below description, the Presiding Officer may direct the person to immediately proceed to the designated area (or the end of the queue if there is a queue extending from that area), to apply for a ballot paper —
  • who is not less than 70 years of age*;
  • who is pregnant; or
  • who is not able to queue for a long time or has difficulty in queuing because of illness, injury, disability or dependence on mobility aids.
  * Including whose document shows the year of birth, without the month and day of birth, of the person which is 70 years earlier than the year within which the polling day falls (that is in or before 1956).
• The Presiding Officer will also designate a seating area inside the polling station for the above voters or authorized representatives to take a rest, if they so wish. After resting, they can queue up along the special queue before being directed to the ballot paper issuing desks to apply for a ballot paper.
• Based on the principles of the autonomy of voting and secrecy of votes, the law prohibits anyone (even if he/she is a voter’s relative or friend) from accompanying or assisting the voter or the authorized representative to cast his/her vote. A voter or an authorized representative who has difficulty in marking the ballot paper by himself/herself may, in accordance with the law, ask the Presiding Officer or the deputy to mark the ballot paper on his/her behalf according to his/her voting choice, in the presence of one polling staff as a witness. The Presiding Officer has been allowed to exercise discretion, where appropriate, to allow accompanying persons to use the special queue together with voters who have a genuine need to be accompanied by others.

Checklist for Voters/Authorized Representatives

• According to the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (Cap. 554) enforced by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (“ICAC”), a voter or an authorized representative MUST NOT conduct the following acts within Hong Kong or elsewhere:
  • Solicit or accept any advantage (including money, gift, etc.), food, drink or entertainment from any person for not voting at an election, or voting or not voting for a particular candidate or particular candidates at an election.
  • Wilfully obstruct and prevent any person from voting at an election.
  • Incite another person not to vote or to cast invalid vote at an election by carrying out any activity in public during the election period.
  • Vote at an election knowing that he/she is not entitled to do so; or vote at an election after having knowingly or recklessly given materially false or misleading information to an electoral officer.
  • (Otherwise than as expressly permitted by an electoral law) Apply for a ballot paper in the name of another person or, having voted at an election, apply at the same election for a ballot paper in the person’s own name.
  • Without lawful authority, supply a ballot paper to another person; deface or destroy a ballot paper.
  • Incur election expenses for a candidate at an election without being authorized in writing by the candidate as the election expense agent.
  • Publish a materially false or misleading statement of fact about a particular candidate or particular candidates at an election.
  • Publish an election advertisement that includes the support from any person or organization without prior written consent from the supporting person or organization.
• The ICAC has set up a Clean Election Website (www.icac.org.hk/elections) to provide election stakeholders with reference materials and information on its publicity programmes.
• The following actions are also prohibited in a polling station:
  • Communicate with other voters or authorized representatives including showing his/her vote on the ballot paper to others or use mobile telephones or any other device for electronic communication.
  • Film, take photographs or make any audio or video recording.
  • Ask other voters or authorized representatives to mark his/her ballot paper. In case of need, voters or authorized representatives may, in accordance of the law, request the Presiding Officer or his/her deputy to mark their ballot papers in the presence of a polling staff.
  • Interfere with other voters or authorized representatives who are casting their votes.