Nguyễn Thị Lệ, deputy secretary of the HCM City Party Committee and chairwoman of the People’s Council, checks the organisation plans for elections in Thủ Đức city. Photo www.sggp.org.vn

The city is preparing for the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils for the 2021-26 tenure on May 23.

Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper spoke with Nguyễn Thị Lệ, deputy secretary of the HCM City Party Committee and chairwoman of People’s Council, on preparing for voting amid COVID-19 prevention and control.   

How is HCM City organising conferences and meetings to contact voters amid the recent COVID-19 outbreak?

Hundreds of conferences and meetings to contact voters have been organised throughout the city. Because of the complex evolution of COVID-19, the city’s Election Commission has instructed Thủ Đức city and 21 districts to prepare plans to organise offline and online conferences and meetings while complying with COVID-19 prevention protocols.   

With these methods, the conferences and meetings have ensured that the correct subjects will participate in compliance with the provisions of the Law on Election of Deputies to National Assembly and People's Council and protocols in COVID-19 prevention and control, including keeping a safe distance and no mass gatherings. The time for organising the conferences and meetings has been shortened.   

How did you organise talks on providing biographies of candidates to voters?

Besides conferences and meetings with voters, organizing talks to provide the biographies of candidates is very important. These talks should be organised in residential areas and groups based on gender, religion and others. Places for organisation should be spacious and airy and in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.   

People in the city should be provided sufficient information on voting dates and candidates and then elect the right candidates to become their representatives.   

How have you ensured safety for voters when they go to the polls on May 23? 

The Election Commission has issued plans on carrying out preventive measures against COVID-19. Plans were made for voting sites; for voters who are quarantined at home; for voters in quarantine areas and under lockdown; and the health establishments where COVID-19 patients and people suspected of having COVID are being treated.   

All attendees in the election must comply with Ministry of Health protocols. If voting sites are under lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak, election teams must strengthen disinfection. Attendees must keep a distance of at least 2 metres between them. The election procedures and times for voting should be arranged at each voting site and residential area.

The staff of election teams will come to houses, hotels and hospitals where voters are quarantined. These staff will wear protective clothing and apply preventive measures to ensure safety.

Should voting start in the early morning to ensure election progress and avoid delays?  

Voting will take place from 7am to 7pm on May 23. Based on local situation, election teams could decide to start earlier but not before 5am. And they could end later, but not after 9pm. — VNS