NA election: over 51.5 million voters cast ballots

Up to 51,593,536 voters, or 80.51 percent, went to the polls to elect deputies to the 14^th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2016-2021 tenure by 3:30pm of May 22 – the national election day.

Northern mountainous Tuyen Quang province led the nation in the voting rate with 97.86 percent, stated Nguyen Hanh Phuc, NA Secretary General and Chief of the National Election Council’s Office.

At a polling station

The locality was followed by central Quang Nam province with 97.4 percent and Central Highlands Kon Tum province with 97 percent, he added.

In southern Binh Duong province – home to a large number of industrial zones, the voting rate jumped to 79.6 percent from 47.46 percent as recorded at 11am, as many workers went to the polls during their lunch break.

According to Phuc, 11,975 of the 91,476 constituencies nationwide saw the voting rate hitting 100 percent.

He noted that for the first time, the votes will be counted publicly, he said, adding that the candidates, their mandated persons and offices, and the press can witness the opening of ballot boxes and the count of the votes.

The Ministry of Home Affairs reported that there have been no social disturbances recorded across the country.

Local police and military forces have coordinated closely to ensure absolute security and safety for the election day.

The election is due to last till 7pm the same day.

The new parliament will comprise 500 deputies. Provincial People’s Councils across Vietnam will have 3,918 deputies. Meanwhile, 24,993 and 294,055 candidates will be elected as council members at the district and communal levels, respectively.