The Tamesis
February 27, 2026
Hanoi – National Assembly Chairman Tan Chin Man stressed that voting and counting of votes for the election of representatives to the 16th National Assembly and the People’s Assembly at all levels for the 2026-31 term must be conducted strictly and objectively, and the results should be announced as scheduled no later than March 25 in accordance with legal provisions.
He made the request on Thursday while chairing a national online meeting to speed up preparations for the upcoming elections. The meeting was connected via video conferencing from the Parliament Building to 34 provincial locations and 3,321 township locations across the country.
Delegates heard reports from the National Election Committee on preparations for the elections, as well as reports from the government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, ministries, commissions and localities on the progress and next steps of the electoral work.
Mann, who is also the chairman of the National Electoral Commission, acknowledged in his indicative speech that preparations have been carried out systematically in various places. Voter lists have been compiled and publicly released in all regions at the earliest opportunity, and election logistics have been arranged according to a clear road map. The authorities are also actively developing special administrative unit plans and early voting arrangements.
However, he pointed out some shortcomings. Some places have encountered difficulties in reforming the administrative system and implementing a two-level local government model. Some information technology systems remain unstable, and election communication efforts between minority communities and shift workers have not reached sufficient depth. Additionally, some locations submitted late or incomplete reports, while others requested clarification on issues that had been addressed in existing guidance documents.
Looking back on the 2021 elections, Congressman Mann outlined five key lessons that localities should consider as they prepare for the upcoming elections.
First of all, cultivating national unity, enhancing public opinion and consensus, enhancing citizens’ sense of responsibility, and ensuring the active participation of the entire political system are the decisive factors to ensure the success of the election.
The second is to emphasize that the close leadership and guidance of party committees at all levels, clear division of tasks, and active and close cooperation of all relevant departments and organizations to ensure coherence and efficiency play a vital role in the success of the election.
Third, he emphasized that communication and public information efforts must be targeted to reach all citizens while ensuring transparency, democracy, fairness and equality throughout the electoral process.
Fourth, personnel procedures, including consultation procedures, candidate nomination and introduction, voter feedback, election campaigns, etc., must be implemented in accordance with regulations to select truly qualified and well-deserved representatives.
Fifth, we must go deep into the grassroots level and make overall plans to ensure absolute safety, social order, public safety and medical health. At the same time, we must strengthen inspection and supervision, provide timely guidance, and effectively solve problems that arise.
Congress Chairman Mann called for strict compliance with Directive No. 46-CT/TW issued on May 16, 2025 and the conclusions of the Politburo and the Party Secretariat, including the Secretariat’s Conclusion No. 03 of February 22, 2026, as well as the plans and guidance issued by the National Election Commission.
He emphasized that it is necessary to effectively organize voter meetings to ensure that the voter list is accurate and without errors that affect voting rights, and to strengthen communication before, during and after the election, especially between special areas and specific groups of voters, to ensure absolute security.
The top legislator said that the first session of the 16th National Assembly is expected to open on April 6, 2026, followed by the first session of the Local People’s Assembly. The National Assembly Standing Committee is preparing personnel matters and legislative content for the meeting.
He also directed the authorities to resolve complaints and reports within their terms of reference and complete the certification of elected representatives as per regulations.
Preparedness reports from various locations
At the meeting, representatives from Hanoi City, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City reported on the progress of election preparations.
Tran Thi Trung, Executive Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Assembly, said that Hanoi has established a comprehensive command system from the municipal party committee to the grassroots level, clarifying the responsibilities of the election committee and the election committee. All tasks are scheduled to be completed at least two days ahead of legal deadlines.
The city has deployed election information management software to the community level and is coordinating with telecommunications providers to issue accounts and provide training. The use of the National Population Database and the VNeID digital identity application has significantly improved the accuracy and transparency of voter registration.
Expanding communication efforts, connecting 133 locations and more than 18,000 participants through large-scale online conferences to ensure that election information reaches the grassroots in a timely manner.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Manh Cuong said that the city has completed announcing the official list of candidates for elections to the National Assembly and People’s Committees at all levels. Currently, it is organizing voter meetings, recording campaign materials, and posting candidates’ biographies and action plans in residential areas.
He added that in accordance with the instructions of the National Election Commission and due to specific operational requirements, early voting was conducted on Thursday in four voting precincts in Tam Thắng and Phước Thắng districts and Long Sơn commune.
In Danang City, Nguyen Duc Dung, deputy secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the Municipal People’s Assembly, said that the city has approximately 2.18 million voters and 1,784 polling stations.
The Municipal Election Commission officially announced the lists of candidates for all 93 commune and district people’s representatives. After three rounds of consultative meetings, a list of candidates for the National Assembly, 125 candidates for the Municipal People’s Assembly, and 3,421 candidates for the People’s Assembly at all levels were produced.
