Ho Chi Minh voters

In 1946, beforeFirst general election for parliament, 118 chairmen of the People's Committee and representatives of all levels of society, announced a proposal: "Request that Uncle Ho Chi Minh not run for election in the upcoming general election. We honor and support Uncle Ho Chi Minh as President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam". Many places in the country had similar proposals, Uncle wrote a letter: "I am a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, so I cannot go beyond the established general election rules". Perhaps the story said it all.

Certificate of the President of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam certifying that Uncle Ho Chi Minh was a delegate of Hanoi province at the National Congress of Delegates in 1946. Photo: VNA

During nearly a quarter of a century as President, he participated in the elections of the first National Assembly (January 6, 1946); the second National Assembly (May 8, 1960), the third National Assembly (April 26, 1964); the Hanoi People's Council elections of the second (March 26, 1961), the third (April 25, 1965), the fourth (April 28, 1968); the Ba Dinh Ward People's Council elections of the fourth (April 23, 1967) and the last election of the Ward People's Council elections of the fifth (April 27, 1969).

The first general election of the new Vietnam to elect deputies to the first National Assembly (January 6, 1946) was aextremely important historical event. Polling station No. 10 Hang Voi Street (Hanoi) was brightly decorated, many voters had gathered early waiting for the opening time. At that moment, Uncle Ho appeared in his usual simple khaki outfit. He entered the polling station to do his civic duty. People rushed to welcome him. He smiled and waved to his compatriots. After the election, Uncle visited some polling stations on Hang Bac, Hang Dao, Hang Trong, Lo Duc, Buoi streets... That year, Hanoi had 194,880 voters, more than 91% went to vote. Of course, President Ho Chi Minh had the highest number of votes. Voter Ho Chi Minh came to the first election and performed the duties of a voter like that. A true citizen in the true sense.

President Ho Chi Minh receives ballots for the election of the 2nd National Assembly and People's Council on May 8, 1960. Photo: VNA

At the election of deputies to the 2nd National Assembly (May 8, 1960), at exactly 7:00 a.m. on May 8, 1960, Uncle Ho was present at the polling station of group 52, Truc Bach quarter, located at Nguyen Trai School, Cua Bac street. He kindly asked everyone, praised the Election Committee for its thoughtful organization, and personally invited Mr. Thac, the oldest voter, to cast his ballot first, before him. After that, Uncle Ho inspected a number of polling stations in Nhat Tan commune and reminded them to ensure the principles of democracy, secrecy, and completion on time and safely.

Election of deputies to the 3rd National Assembly (April 26, 1964): Uncle Ho voted for deputies to the 3rd National Assembly at polling station A24 located in the Hall of the Ministry of Agriculture, next to the Botanical Garden, Ngoc Ha Street. After fulfilling his civic duties and rights, Uncle Ho visited several polling stations in Dong Da Quarter, Ve Ho Village, Tu Liem District (Hanoi).

Rejecting ballots in Hanoi in 1960. Photo archive

There is a rather interesting story when Uncle Ho, as a voter, went to vote for the Hanoi People's Council. That day was April 25, 1965, at exactly 6:30, Uncle Ho arrived at the polling station in Ba Dinh district. Upon arrival, Uncle Ho happily greeted everyone and told them to join him in fulfilling the rights and obligations of a citizen. Then, Uncle Ho went to the table where the election staff worked and presented his voter card. The young female cadre was very excited and touched to have the election date stamped on Uncle Ho's voter card and attentively watched Uncle Ho sign. A very small thing but made her think and remember forever. That was when Uncle Ho signed, his last signature was close to the square seal of the Ba Dinh District Administrative Committee, but Uncle Ho quickly turned it down so that his signature would not overlap the seal. The female cadre respectfully stood up and handed the voter card back to Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho thanked her and said intimately: Why did you stamp it upside down? It turned out that while she was busy looking at Uncle Ho, she had stamped the voter card upside down. Uncle Ho and everyone else looked at the card with the date April 25th stamped upside down and smiled. The atmosphere at the polling place became more bustling, filled with joy. Next, Uncle Ho went to the next table to receive the ballot and sat at the table for voters, attentively reading the names of each candidate, thinking and choosing the worthy ones. That's our Uncle Ho, close to the point of touching, responsible to the point of being exemplary.

President Ho Chi Minh's voter card issued on April 15, 1965. Photo: Archive

And 4 months before his eternal death, on April 27, 1969, as a voter, he personally went to the place to hold the ballot for the election of the People's Council of Ba Dinh Ward, Term V. That was also the last time Ho Chi Minh Voters voted. At this time, his health was very weak. He voted at ballot box No. 6, Unit 1, Sub-area 1, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi. In this last election, he left an interesting story that today has become one of the stories about Ho Chi Minh's moral example. "When Uncle Ho arrived, there were already many voters in the Boat House voting. The election team saw Uncle coming, signaled for the people to stop and create "conditions" for Uncle to vote first. Knowing what he meant, Uncle said: "Whoever comes first, writes first, I come later, I wait. I waited until I got to my line, then received the ballot and entered the "chamber" of voting. A journalist raised his camera to take a “lifetime photo”, but Uncle Ho covered the ballot with his hand and told the journalist: “No one is allowed in here. This is the secret ballot writing room for voters. Freedom and secrecy must be guaranteed for citizens”. According to comrades close to Uncle Ho, before going to vote, Uncle Ho did not let anyone “suggest” anything. He said: “Hey, don’t “lead” me. I don’t know who the Party Committee will guide on the list of who to include and who to remove. Show me the resumes of the candidates so I can see. If any of you attended the meeting where the candidates presented their opinions to the voters, please tell me so I can consider it, I will vote myself”.

Uncle Ho participated in the election of Hanoi People's Council on April 27, 1969.

Perhaps for him, each story is a humanistic lesson, a lesson with profound educational value. Let me repeat the words of the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong: "Ho Chi Minh is tall but not far away, new but not strange, great but not pretending to be great, enlightening but not overwhelming, meeting for the first time but feeling like a long-time friend."

Our Uncle Ho is like that, great from the simplest things, and simple in the greatest things. Learning and following his moral example does not mean choosing something grand and lofty, but perhaps starting from the smallest things. Before building an image for yourself, try to fulfill your duties as a citizen. The election of the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels is a particularly important political event. The success of the election comes from the attitude of respecting the rights and obligations of each voter. We may not become a great person, but we can certainly be an exemplary voter. If we have not learned much from Uncle Ho, then we should strive to fulfill our civic duties like voter Ho Chi Minh.