Voters in northern Hải Phòng City head to a polling station on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Most cities and provinces reported high rates of turnout of more than 90 per cent in the May 23 elections, with some recording a rate of as high as 99.99 per cent, reported the National Election Council (NEC).

In almost all electoral units, voting finished on time and in line with the regulations, according to the NEC.

The council reported that voters nationwide eagerly participated in the elections, showing a high sense of responsibility for the country.

Thanks to careful preparations and strong communications, the elections were conducted in a democratic manner, allowing the people to fully exercise their right to mastery.

The event enjoyed wide media coverage, with 8,611 articles on the elections published by the press as of 5pm of May 23. Many foreign media agencies including BBC, Sputnik, Reuters, Xinhua and Nikkei also posted many stories on the elections in Việt Nam.

Election committees in all localities kept close supervision of the voting process to ensure safety and it followed the rules of law.

According to the NEC, the security and social safety and order were ensured in all localities without any abnormal circumstances.

The elections was a comprehensive success as it took place democratically and in line with legal regulations, said Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) late on Sunday after the elections were completed, Trà said this political event was a festival for the entire population.

Trà, who is also a member of the National Election Council (NEC), emphasised that security, order and safety were guaranteed for the elections.

According to the minister, the high turnout rate of voters nationwide, even in COVID-19 pandemic-hit areas, showed the people's faith in the regime, the Party and the State in building a socialist rule-of-law state.

Local election organising agencies created favourable conditions for people to exercise their citizenship rights and obligations, thus promoting democracy, she said.

For voters, they still well performed their rights and duty even in the context of extremely complex developments of the pandemic, Trà added.

More than 69 million people across the country voted to elect 500 deputies to the 15th NA among 866 candidates.

Meanwhile, 3,726 deputies were expected to be selected among 6,199 candidates to provincial-level People’s Councils, 22,952 deputies to district-level People’s Councils among 37,468 candidates, and 242,312 deputies to communal-level People’s Councils among 405,244 candidates.

Results will be announced early next month. — VNS