The number of Macao's registered voters, excluding those of local social organizations, reached 220, 410 by the end of May this year, increasing by 0.26 percent year- on-year, according to the figures released Wednesday by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.

The figures showed that from June 1 last year to May 31 this year, the government recorded 1,532 new voter registrations, while 969 deceased voters were eliminated from the list.

With regard to legal person (social organization), a total of 923 were registered as eligible voters, according to the government.

Under the SAR's Voter Registration Act, the government's Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau is obliged to display the official Electoral Register to the public for ten days starting from Wednesday, so as to allow voters to check their registrations and lodge complaints once they find out any mistake.

Macao will kick off the third Chief Executive and the fourth Legislative Assembly elections in 2009.

Previously the amendment bills of the three electoral laws, namely Voter Registration Act, the Chief Executive Election Law and the Legislative Assembly Election Law were approved in a general vote of the SAR's Legislative Assembly.

The government has said the amendment bills were drafted with the aim to enhance the transparency and quality of local elections.

The revision of the Voter Registration Act includes improvement of the voter registration system, (eligible citizens aged 17 can file advance registrations and the abolishment of the Voter Identity Cards), tougher requirements for social organisations wishing to obtain the political right to vote for the Assembly election, and the increase of competency for the Electoral Management Committee.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2008)