Elections: Allegations of ‘soft coercion’

The project and website set up by activist Jason Chao – Project Just Macau – has received three complaints allegedly regarding individuals in schools being pressured into signing nomination forms, according to a release by the group.
The incidents of ‘soft coercion’ were ‘claimed to have happened in school settings’ and were divided into two types – one in which ‘mid-level management asked teachers to sign a form’ and one in which ‘forms with some other names were distributed’. The activist notes that by signing the forms citizens are demonstrating their preferred candidate while also limiting the donations the citizens can make legally to the candidate they sign up with.
‘In Macau, most citizens are unaware of the significance of putting your name on a nomination form,’ notes the release.