National Election Council: Some constituencies see 100% turnout

Several electoral units recorded voter turnout of 100%, including 23 constituencies in Bac Lieu and 10 constituencies in Vinh Phuc. Most notably, an electoral unit of the public security force in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh became the first location to complete voting, recording a 100% turnout by 6:50 a.m, Dinh said.

Reports from 63 provinces and cities nationwide indicate that the election of deputies to the 15th NA and the People's Councils at all-levels are taking place as planned and are running smoothly, with the process’s organisation being in accordance with the law.

In terms of places where medical isolation is underway, Nguyen Khac Dinh said the NEC has sent written documents detailing instructions for localities to allow the election situation to run smoothly, even in the nation's largest novel coronavirus (COVID-19) hotspots like Bac Giang and Bac Ninh.

Furthermore, talking to the media after casting his vote on the morning of May 23 in Hanoi, Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong highlighted the significance of the election of new members to the 15th legislature and the People's Councils at all levels following the success of the 13th National Party Congress.

He added that these elections are taking place more than 75 years after the country originally gained independence and 35 years since the launch of the Doi moi (Renewal) process. It is also occurring at a time when the country has successfully fulfilled its socio-economic development plans for the 2016 to 2021 and pledged to implement a further socio-economic development plan for the next five years.

With roughly 70 million voters selecting 500 deputies to the 15th NA, nearly 4,000 to provincial-level People’s Councils, over 20,000 to district-level People’s Councils, and more than 240,000 to communal-level People’s Councils, this marks the largest-ever elections, General Secretary Trong affirmed.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, voters have played a highly active and responsible role in terms of preparing for the elections over recent months, the Party chief emphasized. Indeed, he went on to express his confidence that the most deserving people will be selected for the NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 to 2026 tenure.

The leader added his wish that deputies of the NA and People’s Councils in the new tenure will wholeheartedly work for the sake of the nation and its citizens, thereby fulfilling their responsibilities and duties in line with the Constitution and laws, whilst being faithful to the Fatherland, the people, and the Constitution.

Many other Party, State, and Government officials, both incumbent and former, headed to the polls on the morning of May 23 in Hanoi.

Speaking with the press after casting his ballot in Hai Phong city, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highlighted the responsibility of voters who are believed to make remarkable contributions to the success of the elections.

He said he his hope that voters across the nation will exercise their citizen rights and duty to select the best representatives to the 15th NA and People’s Councils at all levels.

A range of stringent preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic had been put in place polling stations throughout the country to ensure elections took place in a safe manner.
Voting commenced at 7 a.m. on May 23 across around 80,000 polling stations nationwide, with the process scheduled to conclude at 7 p.m. on the same day.