National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ has called on citizens nationwide to go to the polls on Sunday and make their voices heard.

Huệ urged people nationwide to elect the most deserving deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026.

Voters should be well aware of their role and right to mastery, he told the media in an interview ahead of the general election, set to take place on Sunday.

Voter's choices will decide the quality and efficiency of elected bodies, contributing to building the legal framework, improving the investment and business environment and promoting socio-economic development as well as to ensuring national defence-security, social welfare and the right to mastery of the people, he said. 

More than 69 million voters are eligible to go to 84,767 polling stations across the country to elect deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026 on Sunday.  

Given the spread of COVID-19, Huệ, who is also head of the National Election Council (NEC), urged voters to observe pandemic prevention and control regulations on election day.

Regarding preparations for the important political event, the top legislator said the NA and its Standing Committee, the Government, the NEC, the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF), People’s Councils, People’s Committees and Election Committees, and the entire political system have given the top priority to the work.

Personnel preparations have been carried out in line with regulations, ensuring democracy, to choose appropriate candidates who have the capacity and qualifications to undertake their tasks, he added.

Huệ also highlighted efforts made to hold meetings between candidates and voters, information and communications work, and ensuring order, safety and security.

The NA Standing Committee and the NEC have sent groups to supervise preparations in localities, asking them to draw up election scenarios in case of natural disasters or pandemic outbreaks, according to the chief legislator.

Huệ said he highly values the quick, thorough and effective preparations by localities, which will greatly contribute to the success of the election.

All voters and people are looking forward to election day, the leader said, expressing his belief that voter turnout will be high and the top deputies will be selected.

Asked about the response to COVID-19, Huệ said the NA Standing Committee, the NEC, the Government and the VFF Central Committee have issued documents instructing localities to set forth scenarios for pandemic outbreaks and natural disasters during the preparations as well as the election day.

Health workers are working round the clock to trace contacts, seal off and stamp out pandemic clusters, and carry out the COVID-19 vaccination programme, the NA Chairman added.

Early voting has been held in some localities like Quảng Nam and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, with voter turnout reaching 100 per cent, and pandemic prevention and control, as well as security and safety, ensured.

NA Chairman Huệ also added that full-time deputies in the NA, who will account for at least 40 per cent of the total deputies under the 2020 Law on Organisation of the NA, will play the core role in law building, supervision and decision making regarding the country's important issues, helping enhance the professionalism of the legislature. —VNS