Early voting takes place on Song Tu Tay Island.

At 6:30 a.m. on May 15th, the stirring national anthem resounded during a solemn flag-raising ceremony in front of the sacred sovereignty marker on Song Tu Tay Island (Truong Sa island district, Khanh Hoa province), marking the beginning of the election day for the military and civilians living on the island commune.

Voter representatives inspect and seal the ballot boxes.

This is one of 21 polling areas in the Truong Sa island district that simultaneously held elections for the 14th National Assembly and the People's Councils of the province, district, and communes for the 2016-2021 term. The election took place a week earlier than on the mainland.

From 5 a.m., all the soldiers and citizens, dressed in their best clothes, flocked to the polling station. Everyone held their voter cards in their hands, eagerly awaiting the moment to cast their ballots and choose representatives to voice the people's opinions in the National Assembly and the Provincial, District, and Commune People's Councils for the next term.

Many people took the opportunity to carefully read and review the list of candidates that had been posted. Lively discussions and exchanges echoed throughout the island.

Outside the pier, some fishermen who fish in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds, as well as other personnel working on the islands, also disembarked from their boats to prepare to vote.

At exactly 7:00 AM, the official voting began. Colonel Phan Tuan Hung, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Staff, 4th Region Command, Navy, was the first to cast his vote. Following him, voters began to vote in turn. The atmosphere was as lively as on the mainland.

Among the crowd of voters, soldier Le Thanh Long, from Song Tu Tay Island, carefully read through the list of candidates before casting his vote. Long eagerly stepped forward to cast his ballot into the ballot box.

Long shared his hope that the ballot would elect representatives who would reflect the will of the people and contribute their voices to many issues of economic and social development, especially regarding maritime and island issues. "Every act of concern and encouragement from the mainland like this helps us feel secure and confident in safeguarding the sovereignty of our homeland," Long said.

For Nhữ Thị Kim Chi, 26 years old, president of the Women's Association of Song Tử commune, the joy of election day is doubled because she is both a voter and a candidate for the commune's People's Council.

Ms. Chi shared that if elected, she would also like to contribute her voice to building the women's movement in the commune. As a voter, she hopes that the representative will speak out in favor of further developing the islands and coastal areas.

"Although there are still difficulties, the concerned voices of the delegates will help bring the mainland closer to the people living on remote islands…," Ms. Chi shared.

From early morning, transient voters arrived on Song Tu Tay Island to prepare to cast their ballots.

The CV boat transported the teams working on Song Tu Tay Island to cast their votes on the island.

Flag-raising ceremony before the election on Song Tu Tay Island.

A large number of voters waited for their turn to cast their ballots.

Commanders and soldiers cast their votes.

Colonel Phan Tuan Hung - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Staff, 4th Region Command, Navy - was the first person to cast a vote on Song Tu Tay Island.

According to TTO