Macau’s first “patriots only” legislative polls on Sunday saw one of the worst turnout rates in recent years, preliminary results showed, after authorities disqualified a dozen candidates and arrested a former opposition lawmaker.

The Chinese casino hub — with a population just shy of 700,000 — amended its election laws in 2024, giving national security officials the final say on candidates’ eligibility.

More than 175,200 residents voted to choose 14 members of the city’s 33-seat legislature, with the remaining spots filled by sector-based indirect elections or by official appointment.

Officials said it was the highest number of votes cast in a legislative election since Macau reverted to Chinese rule in 1999.

But turnout was just 53 percent of more than 328,000 registered voters, putt

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