General election – occasion to cherish hard-earned democracy

Nguyen Thanh Quang, head of neighborhood No.14 in An Duong street, Hanoi, felt emotional when holding his voter card for the upcoming general election. 

A poster calling for voters to cast their ballots on May 23

“Seeing this card makes me think about Uncle Ho’s words on the significance of this small piece of paper,” Quang told Hanoitimes in exciting voice.

“Uncle Ho said each ballot is of small size but has great meaning. Our people have overcome tremendous hardship and made huge sacrifice in the revolutions against feudal and colonial rules, so that we are now able to cast these ballots. This proves the democracy and freedom in our country, and the rights of each citizen,” he continued.

“I hope each citizen in my neighborhood to turn out to vote in the election day and exercise  their citizen’s rights and obligations,” Quang said.

President Ho Chi Minh's voter card. File photo

After receiving message on Zalo [a chat app], Ngoc Thao, 68, in Tay Ho district, gets up early in the morning to go to the cultural house nearby to collect voter cards for her family.

“Not only voter cards, they gave me posters of short bios for each candidate,” Thao told Hanoitimes. “I feel a sense of pride that I can choose the person that I think could represent my community and bring our voices to the authorities,” she added.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan checks preparation process for election at Me Linh district. Photo: Thuy Linh

In the past few days, Hanoi’s authorities started delivering voter cards for its nearly 5.4 million electorate, as the city continues to push for the preparation of general election for deputies of the 15^th National Assembly and all-level People’s council for the 2021-2026 period.

“The preparation is on track as scheduled, while list of candidates for the elections have all been sent to every household to review,” said Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front – Hanoi chapter Nguyen Lan Huong at a meeting today [May 17] of the city’s election committee.

According to Huong, as of May 14, all 49 candidates of Hanoi for deputies of the 15^th National Assembly have met with voters.

“Today, 160 candidates for deputies of the city’s People Council and 1,054 candidates for the district-level are scheduled to complete their meetings,” Huong informed.

For People Council of ward- and village-level, the process is expected to complete in May 21, with more than 10,800 candidates, she added.

The city’s election committee had instructed local authorities to review electoral rolls, which include students at universities and colleges in Hanoi, as well as frequently update the rolls at each constituency.

“Such review has resulted in a decline of 17,563 voters, as many students had move back to their hometown due to complicated Covid-19 situation,” Huong said.

Under the current circumstance, the election committee has also set up plan to ensure people in isolation zone being able to exercise their rights, she noted.

“A priority for the committee at the moment is to help people under isolation at home, quarantine zone or health facilities to cast their votes,” Huong added.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan urged the entire political system to stay focused as the election day [May 23] is fast approaching.

“No effort should be spared to ensure the success of the general elections,” Tuan stressed.

Sharing Tuan’s view, Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen said it is the city’s responsibility to raise public’s awareness on their rights and responsibilities for the election.

“Leaders of each locality are fully responsible for elections’ success,” Tuyen added.