Over the past eight decades, elections in Vietnam have been organised under the leadership of the Communist Party, beginning with the country’s first general election on January 6, 1946. That ballot, held shortly after independence, marked the first time Vietnamese citizens directly exercised their voting rights to establish a national legislature.

Since then, 15 National Assembly elections have been conducted. Authorities say the Party’s role has focused on shaping the legal framework for elections, overseeing personnel preparation and ensuring alignment with constitutional principles. The legal basis for election organisation is set out in the Constitution and related laws governing the National Assembly, government structure and local administrations.

Historian Duong Trung Quoc recalled that the second session of the first National Assembly in November 1946 adopted Vietnam’s first Constitution, establishing foundational principles that continue to guide the country’s political system.

Personnel preparation is a central component of the electoral process. Party guidelines emphasise political credentials, professional competence and legislative capacity for candidates to the National Assembly and local People’s Councils. Analysts say the increasing complexity of lawmaking and national governance has raised expectations for deputies’ qualifications and policy expertise.

Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Duong, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Office, said the legislature now addresses increasingly complex and far-reaching issues, particularly in the legislative sphere, requiring representatives with both vision and technical knowledge.

Preparations for the 2026–2031 elections have included directives issued by the Politburo in 2025 outlining requirements for transparency, legal compliance, efficiency and public participation. Coordination is under way nationwide to ensure orderly candidate nomination processes, public communication and security arrangements.

The upcoming vote is described as an opportunity to consolidate state institutions and advance development goals set out at the recent Party Congress, as Vietnam seeks to strengthen governance capacity and sustain economic growth in a changing global environment.

Consultative conference finalises list of 217 nominees for NA election

VOV.VN - All delegates attending the third consultative conference have agreed on a list of 217 nominees from central agencies and organisations who meet the requirements to stand for election to the 16th National Assembly.