Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà. VNA/VNS Photo

The elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure was a comprehensive success as it took place democratically and in line with legal regulations, Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà told Vietnam News Agency.

Could you give a brief assessment of the election results that the Ministry of Home Affairs has collected so far?

First of all, it must be said that this was a completely successful election, ensuring democracy, equality, safety and compliance with regulations and law. The election day was truly a big festival for every citizen. By 7pm on the election day, the turnout rate reached 99.16 per cent

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, localities and units made great efforts to mobilise voters to participate in the election.

In many localities such as Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Điện Biên, Hà Giang, Đắk Nông, Bình Định, An Giang, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, Bạc Liêu, Bến Tre, turnout was more than 99 per cent . In mountainous provinces such as Lạng Sơn and Lào Cai, the rate was 99.98 per cent.

The National Election Council, the Government, the Prime Minister, relevant ministries and agencies such as the National Election Council Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the whole political system, from central to local, made efforts in directing, organising and implementing the election.

All citizens showed positive responses, consensus, unity and solidarity. Voters across the country were very excited when holding their ballot papers in hand. 

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

In regards to safety and order, the election took place without any trouble or large gatherings. The local police and military forces closely coordinated to ensure absolute security and safety on election day. 

On election day, localities ensured necessary distancing among voters, staggering time slots and implementing the 5K principle.

Polling stations were fully equipped with temperature measurement equipment, backup masks, and hand sanitiser.

In some places, there were cases where voters showed symptoms of cough and fever, so members of the Election Team instructed them to go separately and cast their ballots in backup boxes.

For the area where voters are isolated at home, the Election Team implemented measures to prevent and control the pandemic in accordance with regulations so that voters can exercise their voting rights safely and in accordance with the law.

In some pandemic-hit areas, the vote rates were still quite high. Why do you think this was?

People’s belief for the country, for the Party and the State is the most important. In such a difficult situation, with many voters being quarantined or lying on hospital beds for treatment, they are still willing to participate in the election with their hearts, will and national spirit.

On Election Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs organised a delegation to inspect the election work in Bắc Ninh, one of the localities with the most complicated context of COVID-19. Can you give some information about the election work here?

On the election day, a delegation of the Ministry of Home Affairs led by Deputy Minister Trần Anh Tuấn went to check four polling stations in Tiên Du District and Từ Sơn Town.

In this locality, voting was done in divided time zones, with voters grouped by residential cluster. Voters before entering the polling station voters had their temperatures checked and hands sanitised. All polling stations had isolation rooms. If a voter was found to be infected, they were isolated immediately. For F2 cases isolated at home, the Election Team brought an extra ballot box to their homes for voters to cast their ballots.

A situation arose in Bắc Ninh when 38 voters were taken into isolation areas on May 22, the day before the election. At these locations, early voting had already been conducted. To ensure the rights of voters, on the morning of May 23, election teams had to bring extra ballot boxes to the isolation areas.

This means local electoral organisations paid great attention to create the most favourable conditions for people to exercise their rights and obligations, and to maximise democracy.

Many areas had to conduct early voting due to their geographic conditions or due to the pandemic. But in general, all localities and election teams managed to strictly comply with the provisions of the law.

The ultimate goal was to create the most favourable conditions for voters to exercise their citizenship rights and maximise democracy. Therefore, the vote rates in these localities in the whole country were very high: Bắc Giang Province (98.20 per cent), Bắc Ninh Province (97.55 per cent), Điện Biên Province (99.61 per cent), Khánh Hòa (99.29 per cent). -- VNS