Voting began at 7am on May 23 across around 80,000 polling stations nationwide in the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Council at all levels in the 2021-2026 tenure. This is a festival of the entire people, a chance to exercise the people’s right to mastery via the election of moral and talented persons deserving to represent the people in the National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils. The election followed the success of the 13th National Party Congress, a major political event of the Party, the country, and all Vietnamese people that holds strategic significance for the continuation of comprehensive and synchronous reforms and faster and more sustainable development. 

Party, State and Government officials, both incumbent and former, headed to the polls in Hanoi on May 23 morning, along with 69 million voters across the country, to cast their votes.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong casts his vote in the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 term. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the National Election Council (NEC) exercises  his citizenship right at polling station No. 1 in Hai Phong City’s An Lao District. Photo: Doan Tan / VNA President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his wife, and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen cast ballots on May 23 morning. Photo: Thong Nhat / VNA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh casts his vote in Can Tho city on May 23 morning. Photo: Ngoc Thien / VNA

Meanwhile, 3,726 deputies will be selected among 6,199 candidates to provincial-level People’s Councils, 22,952 deputies to district-level People’s Councils among 37,468 candidates, and 242,312 deputies to communal-level People’s Councils among 405,244 candidates.

Soldiers and people living and working in the island township of Truong Sa and the island communes of Sinh Ton and Song Tu Tay, in Truong Sa district of central Khanh Hoa province, went to the polls on May 16 to cast their ballots to elect deputies to the 15th National Assembly and the People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure. Photo: VNA The house at 48 Hang Ngang street where President Ho Chi Minh penned the Declaration of Independence in 1945 is a voting station. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang / VNP Voters have their temperature checked at constituency No. 01, Hang Bai ward, Hoan Kiem district. Photo: Viet Cuong / VNP   Voters keep their distance and wear masks to prevent COVID-19. Photo: Cong Dat / VNP Voters carefully select candidates before voting. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang / VNP Voters cast ballots at constituency No.4 at Trung Phung ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi. Photo: Khanh Long / VNP 96-year-old Nguyen Kim Nguyet goes to vote at Dien Bien ward, Hanoi. Photo: Tran Thanh Giang / VNP   A nun casts her ballot at Hang Trong ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. Photo: Thanh Dat / VNA Voters of the Mong ethnic group in Nam Giot village, Phong Lai commune, Thuan Chau district, Son La province cast their ballots. Photo: Huu Quyet / VNA   Special ballot boxes were brought to quarantine facilities in Bac Giang. Photo: Danh Lam / VNA Three positive cases were given priority to vote and then were taken to the University of Agriculture and Forestry for treatment. Photo: Danh Lam/VNA   A special ballot box was brought to Bach Mai hospital. Photo: Minh Quyet / VNA

The elections took place amid complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, preparations had been conducted in a thorough manner to ensure safety and health for the people.

The election atmosphere in Da Nang. Photo: Thanh Hoa / VNP COVID-19 safety is ensured at a polling station in Da Nang. Photo: Thanh Hoa / VNP Checking voters' temperature at Cam Le ward, Da Nang city. Photo: Thanh Hoa / VNP   Detainees cast their votes at Da Nang detention center.

Special ballot boxes were brought to hospitals, quarantine facilities and lockdown areas for COVID-19 to ensure people's voting rights.

Voting began at 7am on May 23 at constituency No. 05, An Khanh ward, Thu Duc city. Photo: Kim Phuong / VNP Checking and sealing of the ballot box at constituency No.12, An Lac ward, Binh Tan district, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Le Minh/ VNP Each voter is provided with biographical material of the candidates. Photo: Kim Phuong/VNP Voters cast their ballots at Phu Nhuan district, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thong Hai / VNP Election officials brings the supplementary ballot box to Truong Thi Minh's house, born in 1930, An Lac ward, Binh Tan district, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Le Minh / VNP   Monks cast their ballots in Bac Lieu city. Photo: Nhat Binh / VNA

The elections were completed at 7pm on May 23. Reports showed that as of 7 p.m, about 99.16% of voters across the country have casted their ballots, in which the provinces of Lao Cai, Lang Son and Tra Vinh posted the highest turnout rate of 99.98% and Nghe An with the lowest of 97.30%./.

By VNA/VNP