HCM CITY – Together with voters nationwide, more than 5.2 million voters in HCM City on Sunday took part in Election Day, exercising their rights and duties in voting for candidates for the 14^th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels.

Although the polls officially opened at 7am, many voters arrived at the 3,200 electoral units an hour early. Of the voters, many elderly people, despite health problems, came early to the polls.

The city’s election committee said the election at all polling stations was carried out in accordance with the law.

Preparations were carefully executed according to the law, and the lists of candidates were announced in a timely manner.

The committee regularly updated amendments and focused on voters who were non-residents, those in temporary detention, and patients.

At 6:40am, an opening ceremony started at polling station No 97 in Ward 15 of District 10 with two voters checking and sealing polling boxes.

After the opening ceremony, Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, a Politburo member and President of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee and Deputy Chairman of the National Election Council, was one of the first voters at station No 97.

“I’ve worked in Hà Nội for 10 years. This election, however, I registered to vote with our family in HCM City,” Nhân said.

He said that his 94-year-old mother chose a candidate and then assigned her daughter-in-law to submit the vote.

At the election site No 82 at Sơn Ca 15 Kindergarten in Ward 15 of Phú Nhuận District, the voting started at 7am with the first participant, Võ Văn Thưởng, a Politburo member, who is also Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the Central Publicity and Education Commission.

Thưởng said: “The atmosphere yesterday and today was special. It was a big party of citizens. Voting for the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels is an important right of citizens.”

Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình voted at electoral unit No 115 in Ward 11 of Tân Bình District. He was followed by other voters.

Other former leaders also exercised their rights at different polling sites.

Former President Trương Tấn Sang voted in Tân Định Ward of District 1 and former Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải joined the voting party in Ward 7 of District 3, while former Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng voted in Ward 6 of District 3.

Monk Thích Thiện Nhơn, chairman of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council, led monks from Minh Đạo Pagoda to vote at unit No 60 in Ward 9 of District 3.

Nhơn said the council had encouraged all monks and nuns to take part in national Election Day to choose the country’s leaders.

HCM City has a total of more than 5.2 million voters, including nearly 2.8 million female voters.

Before official Election Day, the city organised 112 meetings for voters and candidates for the National Assembly and 170 meetings for voters and candidates for the city’s People’s Councils. — VNS