Top legislator calls on voters to wisely choose deputies

Chairman of the National Assembly and Chairman of the National Election Council, Tran Thanh Man

He described the 2026 general election (March 15) as a significant political event that enables citizens across the country to exercise their rights and contribute to shaping state institutions through the election of qualified representatives.

To ensure the success of the election, thorough preparations have been carried out across all sectors with the active participation of the entire political system, he said.

According to the NA Chairman, preparations have been conducted proactively, comprehensively and in strict compliance with legal regulations, ensuring all necessary conditions for the polls to take place safely, democratically and lawfully. Authorities at both central and local levels have worked in close coordination to guarantee the election's success.

He noted that the Politburo issued Directive No. 46-CT/TW in May 2025 to guide the organization of the election, followed by additional instructions to ensure thorough implementation. Relevant agencies have issued a full set of legal documents and operational guidelines, while localities have completed training, infrastructure preparations and security arrangements.

Candidate selection — the most critical stage of the election process — has been conducted in an open, democratic and transparent manner, ensuring both continuity and renewal. Following the third consultative conference, the National Election Council officially announced a list of 864 candidates running for seats in the 16th National Assembly across 182 constituencies nationwide.

For People's Councils at all levels, the official lists include 4,223 candidates for provincial-level councils and 121,242 candidates for commune-level councils, ensuring representation from various social groups, sectors and regions.

Voter registration has also been carried out in strict accordance with regulations, with more than 78 million voters nationwide eligible to cast their ballots. One notable improvement is the transition from manual voter list management to digital systems, helping shorten processing time, improve accuracy and reduce administrative workloads at the grassroots level.

Inspection, supervision and the settlement of complaints and denunciations have been implemented systematically to ensure fairness and transparency. Meanwhile, communication efforts have been intensified through multiple media platforms to help voters better understand their rights and responsibilities.

Security and safety measures have also been deployed nationwide, including the protection of information technology systems and cyberspace, to ensure the election is conducted safely and smoothly.

Regarding new features of this election, Tran said this is the first general election to be held under the revised Law on Election of Deputies to the National Assembly and People's Councils.

Key changes include holding the election two months earlier than in previous terms, requiring procedures to be streamlined while maintaining strict management.

The organization of polling areas and election bodies has also been adjusted in line with the new two-tier local administration model, aiming to enhance coordination and accountability among authorities and related organizations.

Another reform is the expansion of campaign methods, allowing voter meetings to be conducted both in person and online, thereby improving accessibility and transparency while ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

Digital transformation has become a major highlight of this year's election process, with information technology applied in voter list management, election communication, progress reporting, vote counting support and result aggregation. Voter data is now managed through the national population database, while citizens can use the VNeID application to check their polling locations and personal information.

As election day approaches, top legislator urged voters nationwide to actively participate in the voting to fulfil their civic duties and carefully select deputies who possess integrity, competence and credibility.

Expressing confidence in the patriotic spirit, unity and responsibility of voters, he said the general election would be successfully organized and would truly become a nationwide festival of democracy./.