Obstructing voting may result in criminal prosecution.

Lawyer Nguyen Ngoc Lan - Hanoi Bar Association discussed issues related to voting room regulations and taking ballots out of the voting room.

PV:Lawyer, after receiving the ballot, can voters take it home and then come back to vote or do they have to do it right there?

Attorney Nguyen Ngoc Lan:According to the 2015 Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies, each voter upon receiving a ballot must vote immediately at the polling place.

When a voter holds a ballot, only that voter knows who he or she is voting for and no one else knows.

Thus, to ensure transparency as well as the safety of the ballot, voters when coming to the polling place to receive the ballot must choose the candidates they like and vote right there, not take the ballot home and then return.

PV:A voter in the 2016 election reported that at 9am on the day of the election, the village chief came to his house and asked him to go to the polling station to vote because the election time was almost over and if he was late, the election team would be criticized. The voter asked if the village chief's actions violated the law?

Attorney Nguyen Ngoc Lan:According to the provisions of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies in 2015, the election day is on Sunday, starting from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In actual cases, it may be earlier, but the election time must not start before 5:00 a.m. and must not end after 9:00 p.m. on the same Sunday. Thus, during that period, voters have the right to arrange their work to find time to go to the polling station to vote.

However, in reality, perhaps the polling stations also need to ensure the maximum number of voters to vote, so the election committee members assign each other to remind voters because they are concerned that voters have many other things to do and may forget to vote, thus missing out on the opportunity and rights of voters. Therefore, reminding voters is to ensure this.

PV:So what are the rules of the polling station that voters need to know, lawyer?

Attorney Nguyen Ngoc Lan:In order for the election to be successful and ensure the elements of democracy and legitimacy, ensure the equality of voters and also ensure order, safety and security, all citizens must strictly comply with all legal regulations on elections to ensure that the election day will take place smoothly. Rules of thepolling boothThe election committee posted the results right at the polling station.

A constituency in Tan Son commune (Do Luong). Photo: Mai Hoa

The content includes: Must strictly follow the principles and ensure that they vote themselves and not ask others to vote; all voters when coming to the polling station must line up according to the instructions of the election team and ensure that there is a place reserved for the disabled or the elderly to make the election more convenient; It is strictly forbidden to campaign for votes at the polling station in any form; Do not bring weapons or explosives into the polling area. Those who do not have a duty are not allowed to enter the polling station; members of the election team and those serving the election must wear badges for easy identification. When the voter has finished voting, the election team is responsible for stamping the voter card, which is only valid for one vote.

In addition, those who use tricks of deception, bribery, exploitation or coercion to cause obstacles to the election will be held responsible before the law depending on the severity of the act, and may be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution.

PV:Thank you, attorney./.