Nation turns out for elections

Voters cast ballots at a polling station in Hà Nội. - VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

The elections began throughout the country at 7am this morning.

Citizens vote to choose 500 NA deputies and 322,966 People’s Council deputies for the 2016-21 term during the election, which is considered a "national festival".

Citizens received their voter cards proving their eligibility to vote at nearly 91,500 election sites across the country, according to the National Election Council (NEC).

Party and State leaders joined voters nationwide in exercising a citizen’s right and duty to elect deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-21 tenure.

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng cast the first ballot at a poling station in Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội. - VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng was the first to cast a ballot at polling station No 3 in Nguyễn Du Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội at 7am this morning.

Trọng said he expected that all deputies wining an elected position would try to best serve the nation and the people, and to fulfil their responsibilities and obligations on behalf of the people, in taking part in the management of the country and society.

In the northern port city of Hải Phòng, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his wife cast the first ballots at polling station No 8 in Vĩnh Bảo Town, Vĩnh Bảo District.

PM Phúc said the May 22 Election Day was an important political event for the country, which provides an opportunity for citizens to exercise their rights and obligations.

He also said he believed voters would select worthy, virtuous and talented representatives who would represent their aspirations, contributing to building a State of the people, by the people and for the people.

On the same day, President Trần Đại Quang joined voters in Nhân Chính Ward, Thanh Xuân District of Hà Nội.

He said the election had an important meaning in building, strengthening and perfecting the law-governed State, and meeting the demands to speed the industrialisation, modernisation and global integration of the country.

Additionally, NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân cast the first ballot at polling station No 4 in Vĩnh Phúc Ward, Ba Đình District, Hà Nội.

Although the official election day is set for May 22, some areas in 10 provinces of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, Lai Châu, Khánh Hòa, Kiên Giang, Quảng Nam, Quảng Bình, Quảng Ngãi, Nghệ An, Khánh Hòa and Đắk Lắk held early voting due to transportation problems for voter. Those areas included communities along the coastline, offshore islands and places where voters would be working at sea on election day.

The election will end at 7pm today and election results will be announced within 20 days after election day, according to the NEC.