Ethnic residents cast their vote cards at polling station in Định Hóa District, Thái Nguyên Province.— VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hằng

Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI –The National Election Council (NEC)’s Office claimed more than 65.5 million voters nationwide or 98.77 percent of the electorate went to the polls by 10pm Sunday to elect deputies to the 14th National Assembly (NA) and all-level People’s Councils for 2016-2021.
According to Nguyễn Hạnh Phúc, NA General Secretary and Chief of the NEC’s Office, most localities saw turnout of more than 90 per cent.
The central province of Thừa Thiên – Huế and the northern mountainous province of Yên Bái topped the list with 99.99 percent. They were followed by Hòa Bình, 99.98 percent; Quảng Nam and Bến Tre, 99.97 percent; Lai Châu, 99.96 percent and Hậu Giang, 99.95 percent.
The election took place safely and ballot counting was supervised by voters and the press, a new part of the Law on Election of Deputies to the NA and all-level People’s Councils, Phúc said.
Voting also ran smoothly at temporary detention centres, he said.
Initial reviews by local election committees showed that the election was held within the guidelines of competent agencies.
The new law allowed voting from 7am to 9pm, making it more convenient for voters to cast their ballots, he said.
Phúc hailed the initiative of localities like the Mekong Delta province of Hậu Giang which mapped polling stations and Hà Nội which sent biographies of all approved candidates to households before the election.
Voters can hope that “those who are elected to the National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils will do their utmost serving the country and people and will soundly perform their responsibilities as prescribed by the Constitution and law,” said Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.— VNS