Chairman of the Provincial Election Committee: The election was a great success, truly a festival for all people.

PV:Dear Comrade! The election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2021-2026 term has been successful across the province. Could you share more specifically about the results?

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son:The election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2021 - 2026 term in the province was very successful, safe, democratic, in accordance with the law and was truly a festival for all people. First of all, despite taking place in very special conditions with the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic and farmers in the harvest season; but the atmosphere on election day throughout the province, people of all walks of life were very enthusiastic, excited, and voluntarily went to the polls to choose those who truly deserved to represent their will and aspirations as National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels. This is reflected in the total number of voters participating in the vote in the whole province being nearly 2.1 million people, reaching 98.8%. Two localities, Cua Lo town and Quy Chau district, had a voter turnout rate of 100% and the lowest district in the province had a voter turnout rate of 96.5%.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son talks with members of the election team of Dang Son commune, Do Luong district. Photo: Mai Hoa

Voters across the province have chosen quality representatives, ensuring the right composition and structure, especially increasing the proportion of women and young people.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Chairman of the Provincial Election Committee

Election results, up to this point, through the synthesis from the election committees at all levels, voters in the whole province have elected 13 National Assembly deputies; 83 Provincial People's Council deputies and district and commune People's Council deputies. In particular, the selection of quality deputies, ensuring the right composition and structure, especially increasing the proportion of women and young people.

On election day, the security situation, social order and safety in the whole province in general and at 3,416 polling stations were well ensured, without any incidents during the election process (including 207 early voting stations). Covid-19 prevention and control work was carried out in accordance with the 5K principle, ensuring absolute safety. Many election teams were flexible and creative, dividing the time frame to go to the polling station according to each residential group or household to ensure social distancing, avoiding large gatherings at the same time and place. Some localities have promoted the role of self-management teams in propagating and mobilizing voters to go to the polls in large numbers.

The organization of elections in polling stations was conducted by election teams urgently, scientifically, methodically, in accordance with procedures and regulations of the law and more professionally than in previous elections, despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and hot weather.

At all polling stations, the 5K principle in preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic was strictly implemented. Photo: Mai Hoa

Another success worth mentioning is that citizens' rights are guaranteed to the maximum with the attention to directing and arranging voting areas in concentrated quarantine areas for F1, F2 cases or those returning from epidemic areas; at detention camps and concentrated drug rehabilitation facilities in the province. Many elderly or sick cases also had additional ballot boxes brought to their homes by the election team so that everyone could exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

PV:According to you, what factors contributed to the success of the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term in the province?

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son:The first thing that can be said is the focused and decisive leadership and direction of the steering committees and election committees at all levels and the mobilization of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots level. At each specific time point and election preparation requirement and in each situation, especially in the face of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, the steering committees and election committees from the province to the grassroots level all held meetings to evaluate and give timely, flexible and focused instructions.

Thanks to that, the preparation of contents, tasks as well as conditions to ensure the election work in the whole province is thorough and thoughtful. Security and order plans and Covid-19 prevention and control plans are proactively built by all levels, sectors and forces; especially the scenario of election day management at the polling stations is strict and specific, creating conditions for the election day to take place successfully, safely, democratically, truly a festival for all people.

Localities focus on election propaganda work. Photo: Mai Hoa

Information and propaganda work is deployed systematically in each stage of election preparation. The highlight of this period's information and propaganda work is that, in addition to increasing the effectiveness of vivid visual propaganda using billboards, posters, slogans, Party flags, and national flags, creating a festive atmosphere; increasing the amount of information and propaganda on the radio system, propaganda work on mass media is also innovated with many diverse, rich, and timely forms on policies and directions of the steering committees and election committees at all levels, including promoting propaganda on social networks such as Facebook and Zalo. The list, brief biography and action plan of candidates are posted publicly in newspapers and on websites of provincial and local departments, branches and sectors; creating conditions for voters to easily learn about candidates without having to go to the posting place to see them. In addition, election teams and self-management teams in residential areas also promoted a high sense of responsibility, "going to every alley, knocking on every door" to propagate and mobilize people to fully participate in the election.

The decisive factor for success is the response, consensus, active participation and responsibility of voters and people in the whole province for this election. From the responsibility of introducing candidates for the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term; to participating in voter contact conferences, campaigning for candidates and giving opinions to candidates to perfect their action programs when elected as delegates from the voters; including giving opinions to election organizations at all levels in the preparation stage, including screening and selecting qualified people to participate in consultation.

"The decisive factor for success is the response, consensus, active participation and responsibility of voters and people throughout the province for this election."

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Chairman of the Provincial Election Committee

Voters of Tan Lam village, Ngoc Lam commune (Thanh Chuong) go to the polls. Photo: Duc Anh

Especially the high sense of responsibility of voters participating in voting. I truly appreciate the fact that the elderly over 100 years old came to the polling stations to personally hold the ballots and put them in the ballot boxes; the voters in remote, border areas, and complex terrain, walking kilometers in the harsh heat; the farmers who put aside the hustle and bustle of the harvest season, the young people who participated in the election for the first time were also very eager to voluntarily go to the polls to elect those who truly deserve to represent their will and aspirations to be National Assembly and People's Council deputies at all levels. The election was completed, demonstrating the spirit of democracy and innovation, and truly promoting the people's right to mastery.

PV:Can you tell us some of the things that need to be done after election day?

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son:Currently, the Provincial Election Committee is directing election organizations at all levels to prepare election records according to regulations. The announcement of election results and the list of elected deputies to the 15th National Assembly will be carried out by the National Election Council no later than 20 days after the election day. Election committees at all levels will also announce the election results and the list of elected deputies to the People's Council at their level no later than 10 days after the election day.

Nearly 2.1 million voters in the province have fulfilled their civic responsibilities. Photo: Pham Bang

The confirmation of qualifications of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term will be conducted at the first session of the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels. The first session of the 18th Nghe An Provincial People's Council for the 2021-2026 term is expected to be held in early July 2021 to elect the positions of the Provincial People's Council and People's Committee according to regulations.

It can be affirmed that the entire political system has made efforts to have a successful and safe election day and nearly 2.1 million voters in the province have fulfilled their civic responsibilities. It is expected that with quality and responsibility, the National Assembly deputies elected in Nghe An and People's Council deputies at all levels of the new term will make every effort, contributing much to the National Assembly and People's Council agencies for the goal of developing the country in general, Nghe An homeland and each locality in particular; for the rights and interests of the people, worthy of each vote that voters trust and elect.

PV:Thank you very much for this exchange!