This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
On November 24, 2019, Hong Kong's voters set a new record by casting their ballots in the local council elections. The high turnout was a significant development in the city's ongoing political unrest.
According to the government, over a third of the record 4.13 million citizens registered to vote had cast their ballots within seven hours of polls opening. This was a significant increase from the last election in 2015, where the rate was less than double.
The selection of 452 councillors, who handle community-level concerns such as bus routes and garbage collection, traditionally generates little excitement. However, following months of mass rallies and violent clashes, the election has taken on new significance.
Pro-democracy candidates, who are calling Sunday's vote a referendum on Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the pro-Beijing government, are hoping to weaken the grip of the pro-Beijing establishment on the district councils.
"Even though one ballot can only help a little, I still hope it can bring change to society and support street protests in some way," said 19-year-old student Michael Ng, voting for the first time.
The vote is the closest Hong Kongers get to direct representation. The territory's top-level legislature is elected by a mix of popular vote and seats reserved for industry groups stacked with China loyalists, which ensures Beijing's control of the city of around 7.3 million.
Jimmy Sham, a pro-democracy candidate and a prominent figure in the largely leaderless protest movement, said, "We are voting to give our judgement on what has happened... we're also voting to make a choice for what is yet to come."
