Illegal voting has been discovered in the exhibition of models for 2008 Olympic Games constructions, with migrant workers being paid to vote for a certain design, the Beijing Times has reported.

After the discovery by the organizer, most of the false votes were invalidated.

The models for Olympics stadiums and the athletes' village were exhibited at the Beijing International Sculpture Park from August 29 to 31.

On August 31, the last day for voting, at 8:44 am, over 40 people lined up by the exit of Yuquan Nanlu Metro Station. Most wore clean shirts, some with pens in their pockets.

At about 9:00 am, an apparent leader made a small speech to the queue. Several minutes later, the group of people walked to the park in twos or threes. At the gate of the park, they received ballot slips from the staff.

Signatures were not required for votes. Voters were asked to select one project from the five candidates.

After the group had voted -- for the same project -- they walked out and re-assembled outside the gate.

One fake voter said the boss had paid them one day's salary, from 20 to 40 yuan (US$2.4 to 4.8), and provided a free meal.

An employee of the ballot organizer surnamed Wu said some constructing companies were bidding for the project, so the organizers had already anticipated such illegal voting.

Wu said the situation had been more serious on the first day. If staff found anyone voting repeatedly they would confiscate their votes.

(Shanghai Star September 4, 2003)