Over 62 million Vietnamese citizens cast their votes for the National Assembly and local People's Councils for the 2011-2016 term yesterday. Vietnam News Agency reporters spoke to authorities, researchers and voters on the occasion.
Pham Minh Tuyen, General Secretary of the Election Council
What are your comments about activities in local constituencies throughout the country?
The pre-election preparations were conducted very well and smoothly. In many constituencies, local authorities were able to start as early as 5am yesterday to make sure that everyone had the chance to vote. This meant that many of them finished early, for example, in the southern province of Tra Vinh, voting had been completed in 786 constituencies by 9am yesterday.
Local authorities have taken special care of the elderly who contributed so much during the war, and voters who hold a high position in the Party or Government. They are usually the first to cast their votes.
Safety and traffic were maintained throughout the day at all polling stations too.
What procedures were followed in areas where voting took place ahead of the official polling day yesterday?
The election council decided to let 14 provinces vote early. The earliest was carried out 20 days ahead of the official polling day, but most went to the polls last Friday. By 5pm on Saturday, the election council had received reports from all those provinces to confirm elections had been carried out smoothly and lawfully.
How will the vote count be carried out?
According to the election law, polling should finish at 7pm and no later than 10pm. Starting at 7pm, constituencies would begin the vote counting process. For the National Assembly election, election committees at provincial level are required to submit their election reports to the Election Council within seven days of polling. The Council will then announce the election results as early as possible.
Hoang Xuan Tham, 82, the oldest voter in Constituency No 6 in Cau Dien Ward, Tu Liem District, Ha Noi
I'm very honoured. I woke up very early this morning to prepare and come here.I hope that we can select candidates that are talented and have a good heart, who can represent us and express our thinking and wishes and can stand up for our appropriate rights.
Ha Thi Phuong, medical student, 18, the youngest voter in Constituency No 9 in Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City
This is the first time I have voted. I want to choose the most deserving candidates. They have to be people who are talented with good hearts. I hope the candidates, when elected, will stick to what they promised during their election campaigns. I hope they will focus more on education programmes for students, especially issues related to the job market and programmes to boost the quality of students graduating from colleges.
Dang Thanh Tam, chairman of the management board of the Sai Gon Investment Group (SGI), a first time candidate for the National Assembly
I was born in Binh Thanh and grew up in Phu Nhuan, so I have a deep understanding of local voters' aspirations. If I am elected, I would focus on creating jobs, eradicating food shortage and reducing poverty, providing free health insurance for poor and scholarships for talented students.
88-year-old Luong Hue of Binh Thanh District
Practical action plans focusing on social insurance, developing education and improving the economy are the basis on which I am making my choice.
Tran Thi Hong Giang, 30, of Phu Nhuan District.
My choice is for candidates who are young and working in the economic sector because I want changes in economic management and social insurance.
Tran Dang Trung, 54, a voter in Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District
I have voted several times, but this election has given me expectations for a (bigger) change, and I hoped my vote would help select the best candidate for tackling pressing issues of great public concern.
Hoang Thi Gai, 40, a housewife in Linh Trung Ward
I feel so excited when I go to the polls to exercise my citizen's right. Before casting the ballot, I researched carefully the profile of each candidate to single out the most eligible one who will daringly convey voters' concerns to higher-level authorities.
I expect winning candidates to fulfil promises made in their action plans before the election to reduce difficulties for average-income earners like me.
Phan Hoang Giang, 36, who works for the HCM City National University,
I hope the 13th National Assembly election will breathe new life into the socio-economic situation in general and tertiary education in particular.
More practical policies are needed to improve the quality of university education to produce well-rounded graduates who will in turn contribute to national development. — VNS
Pham Minh Tuyen, General Secretary of the Election Council
What are your comments about activities in local constituencies throughout the country?
The pre-election preparations were conducted very well and smoothly. In many constituencies, local authorities were able to start as early as 5am yesterday to make sure that everyone had the chance to vote. This meant that many of them finished early, for example, in the southern province of Tra Vinh, voting had been completed in 786 constituencies by 9am yesterday.
Local authorities have taken special care of the elderly who contributed so much during the war, and voters who hold a high position in the Party or Government. They are usually the first to cast their votes.
Safety and traffic were maintained throughout the day at all polling stations too.
What procedures were followed in areas where voting took place ahead of the official polling day yesterday?
The election council decided to let 14 provinces vote early. The earliest was carried out 20 days ahead of the official polling day, but most went to the polls last Friday. By 5pm on Saturday, the election council had received reports from all those provinces to confirm elections had been carried out smoothly and lawfully.
How will the vote count be carried out?
According to the election law, polling should finish at 7pm and no later than 10pm. Starting at 7pm, constituencies would begin the vote counting process. For the National Assembly election, election committees at provincial level are required to submit their election reports to the Election Council within seven days of polling. The Council will then announce the election results as early as possible.
Hoang Xuan Tham, 82, the oldest voter in Constituency No 6 in Cau Dien Ward, Tu Liem District, Ha Noi
I'm very honoured. I woke up very early this morning to prepare and come here.I hope that we can select candidates that are talented and have a good heart, who can represent us and express our thinking and wishes and can stand up for our appropriate rights.
Ha Thi Phuong, medical student, 18, the youngest voter in Constituency No 9 in Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City
This is the first time I have voted. I want to choose the most deserving candidates. They have to be people who are talented with good hearts. I hope the candidates, when elected, will stick to what they promised during their election campaigns. I hope they will focus more on education programmes for students, especially issues related to the job market and programmes to boost the quality of students graduating from colleges.
Dang Thanh Tam, chairman of the management board of the Sai Gon Investment Group (SGI), a first time candidate for the National Assembly
I was born in Binh Thanh and grew up in Phu Nhuan, so I have a deep understanding of local voters' aspirations. If I am elected, I would focus on creating jobs, eradicating food shortage and reducing poverty, providing free health insurance for poor and scholarships for talented students.
88-year-old Luong Hue of Binh Thanh District
Practical action plans focusing on social insurance, developing education and improving the economy are the basis on which I am making my choice.
Tran Thi Hong Giang, 30, of Phu Nhuan District.
My choice is for candidates who are young and working in the economic sector because I want changes in economic management and social insurance.
Tran Dang Trung, 54, a voter in Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District
I have voted several times, but this election has given me expectations for a (bigger) change, and I hoped my vote would help select the best candidate for tackling pressing issues of great public concern.
Hoang Thi Gai, 40, a housewife in Linh Trung Ward
I feel so excited when I go to the polls to exercise my citizen's right. Before casting the ballot, I researched carefully the profile of each candidate to single out the most eligible one who will daringly convey voters' concerns to higher-level authorities.
I expect winning candidates to fulfil promises made in their action plans before the election to reduce difficulties for average-income earners like me.
Phan Hoang Giang, 36, who works for the HCM City National University,
I hope the 13th National Assembly election will breathe new life into the socio-economic situation in general and tertiary education in particular.
More practical policies are needed to improve the quality of university education to produce well-rounded graduates who will in turn contribute to national development. — VNS
