Directly elected member (Macau)

In the context of the Legislative Assembly of Macau (Assembleia Legislativa de Macau), a "directly elected member" refers to a legislator elected through direct universal suffrage by eligible voters residing in the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR). These members represent a portion of the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the remainder being indirectly elected through functional constituencies and appointed by the Chief Executive.

Direct elections in Macau occur every four years. Eligible voters, typically permanent residents of Macau over the age of 18, can cast their ballots for candidates listed on slates. The number of directly elected seats is determined by law and has varied over time. The election uses a form of proportional representation to allocate seats based on the votes received by each slate.

Directly elected members are considered to have a mandate directly from the Macau electorate. They are expected to represent the interests of the broader population and are often more focused on issues directly affecting the daily lives of Macau residents compared to indirectly elected or appointed members. However, the limited number of directly elected seats in relation to the overall composition of the Legislative Assembly can impact their collective influence on legislative outcomes.