National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn speaks at the meeting on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The top legislative leader said preparations for the nationwide election on March 15 are largely complete, urging officials to remain vigilant in the final days before millions of voters head to the polls.

Trần Thanh Mẫn, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam (NA), who also heads the National Election Council, chaired a meeting on Thursday with the council’s subcommittees to review the final stage of preparations for the vote that will elect deputies to the NA and members of People’s Councils at all levels.

With just two days remaining before the ballot, NA Chairman Mẫn described the election as a major political event for the country and called on officials to ensure it proceeds smoothly and safely.

“From now until Election Day is the decisive stage. Even a small mistake in organising the vote could affect the credibility of the election and the trust of voters,” he said.

Officials at the meeting said preparations have been carried out on schedule following months of planning and coordination between central agencies and local authorities.

The National Election Council has issued guidance documents and election plans, organised nationwide briefings and training sessions and sent inspection teams to localities across the country.

Local authorities have completed procedural steps in the electoral process, including announcing the list of candidates, compiling voter rolls and establishing polling stations and election committees.

Preliminary figures show that nearly 79 million voters are eligible to cast ballots at more than 72,000 polling stations nationwide, with election bodies in place from the central level down to wards and communes.

NA Chairman Mẫn said the leadership expects voter turnout to be high, describing the vote as a day when citizens exercise their right to choose representatives for the NA and local People’s Councils.

At the same time, he warned officials not to let their guard down in the final stage of preparations and urged them to respond quickly to any unexpected developments.

Authorities were asked to pay particular attention to polling arrangements in remote areas, border regions and island communities and locations where early voting may take place or where logistical conditions are more challenging.

Ensuring security during the election will be a priority, he said, calling on relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation and maintain public order at polling stations.

He also warned against the spread of false or misleading information online, saying authorities must be ready to counter attempts to exploit the election period to create instability.

He urged media outlets to intensify coverage of the election’s significance in the days leading up to the vote, saying clear information would help voters better understand their rights and responsibilities and encourage broader participation.

Reports presented at the meeting indicated that the number of petitions or complaints related to the election remains relatively small. Most submissions have been duplicates or lack sufficient grounds for investigation.

Still, the council’s legal and complaints subcommittee was instructed to continue reviewing cases and work with relevant agencies to verify and resolve any issues in accordance with the law.

“The principle is to handle complaints promptly and properly so they do not affect the election schedule or the certification of elected deputies,” Mẫn said.

Members of the National Election Council have also been asked to suspend work trips between March 15 and March 22 so they can focus on monitoring the vote and responding quickly to any issues that arise.

The council's office has been urged to prepare a system to track developments during Election Day and compile results nationwide, with rapid reporting procedures in place to keep senior leaders updated.

In the final days before the vote, NA Chairman Mẫn called on the entire political system, from central agencies to local administrations, to treat the election as a priority task.

“All agencies and organisations must work closely together with a strong sense of responsibility to ensure the election is held successfully,” he said. — VNS