Hong Kongers voted in record numbers Sunday, and avoided anticipated clashes, during a local election that is widely seen as a de facto referendum on months of pro-democracy protests.

Voters formed long lines that snaked around city blocks outside polling stations across the territory, many waiting over an hour to vote in local elections that are usually viewed as relatively inconsequential.



District Council members who are being elected by Hong Kong voters have no power to pass legislation. But the election is the first chance for residents to vote since a wave of anti-government protests erupted in June, creating bitter divides in Hong Kong society.

As of early Sunday evening, voter turnout appeared to be on pace to double that of the previous District Council election in 2015, according to government figures. It also easily exceeded the previous record turnout set during 2016 Legislative Council elections. "This amount of people I've never seen. There are so many people," said Felix, who works in the real estate industry and voted in the central business district.

By nighttime, most of the long lines at voting stations had tapered off, but nearby sidewalks remained filled with candidates and their supporters who held signs and chanted slogans in an attempt to persuade passersby to cast last-minute votes.

"I'm tired, but I think it’s more important to fight," said Elvis Yam, who waited in line for an hour to vote in the morning and then volunteered to hold a campaign sign for a pro-democracy candidate in the University District. Mr. Ma, a voter in the South Horizons West constituency, said he sees the election as a continuation of the protest movement. "Many would like to have a change. So this election is very important," he says.

Police promised a heavy security presence at voting locations. But outside many polling stations, there was no visible police presence. At others, teams of riot police stood by in nearby vans. There were no reports of major clashes.