HONG KONG (Reuters – Hong Kong’s “patriots”, only legislative council elections are being held on Sunday. The election is criticized for not being democratic. Government officials want to encourage voting in order to prove the legitimacy of the poll.

According to people who are familiar with this effort, officials tried to raise turnout as they feared that a poor showing could be read in protest at a vote not being held without the participation of an opposition party.

There were 10,000 police personnel deployed to ensure security around the city. Raymond Siu, chief of police in the City Police Department told reporters that the massive deployment had been made to make sure the smooth and safe conduct of the polls at the hundreds upon stations throughout the city.

More than 10 people were arrested in the lead-up to election for allegedly encouraging people to vote blank, as well as people who reposted posts on social media from other people, according to official statements. Hong Kong law makes it illegal to inspire someone to vote, or for anyone to invalidate their vote.

China’s Parliament announced in March major reforms to Hong Kong’s electoral system. These included the reduction of directly elected seats as well as the creation of a screening committee that will screen potential candidates. The committee stated only “patriots” could manage the city. The committee, which is stacked with Beijing loyalists, will pick more than a third.

A China-imposed national security law in Hong Kong has led to a continuous crackdown, resulting in scores of demagogues being imprisoned and disbanded civil society groups.

Pro-democracy voters are far less present than in previous polls. Many of them have either declined to stand, been exiled or were jailed. Some activists from overseas and other countries, such as the United States, claim that the election changes in their city have led to a reduction of democratic representation.

These criticisms are rejected by the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. They claim that the election changes and the national security law which took effect in 2017 were necessary to improve the governance of the city and restore stability following mass protests against the government in 2019.

Around a dozen of the 153 candidates for the 90 legislative slots say that they are moderates and aren’t aligned to the pro-Establishment or pro-Beijing camp.

Some analysts believe that officials from China and Hong Kong have increased their calls for voters in the lead-up to the election, fearing that opposition to electoral rules will discourage them. Also, transportation operators provided free rides to voters on election day.

The government wants to ensure a large turnout. “It could legitimize the election,” Jean Pierre Cabestan, professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University said.

The office of Hong Kong’s leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and Beijing’s Liaison Office in the city did not did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on voter turnout.