Island, mountainous localities hold early elections

Quang Ngai (VNA) – More than 300 officers and soldiers in Ly Son island district, the central province of Quang Ngai, on May 20 cast their ballots to elect deputies to the 14 th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2016-2021, two days ahead of the official polling date.

Among the voters, hailing from seven armed force units based in the locality, are young soldiers who have gone to the poll for the first time. Many of them expressed their excitement and honour to vote for the deputies.

Ngo Thai Duong, a private first class of the Ly Son district Military Command, said he hopes that competent and virtuous people will be elected to help develop the nation.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Ngoc Quan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the local Military Command, said relevant agencies and units in the district joined hands to ensure security and safety before, during and after the election.

Ly Son has more than 16,640 voters who will cast their ballots at 22 polling stations.

The same day, over 28,500 voters in 34 underprivileged communes in the mountainous districts of Tuong Duong, Que Phong, Ky Son and Con Cuong, in the central province of Nghe An, exercised their right to vote.

At polling station No. 5 in Huu Khuong commune, Tuong Duong district, from 6 a.m., ethnic minority voters in their traditional costumes, together went to the poll with smiles on their faces.

Vi Hoang Tan, 76, in San hamlet, said although he had took part in many general elections, each time has given him a special feeling.

“I anticipated the election day and pinned high hope on the approved candidates,” he said, extending his wish that the elected deputies will fulfill their tasks and contribute their voice to the national programme on new-style rural area building as well as exclusive policies towards ethnic groups in special difficulties.

As the poorest commune in Nghe An, Huu Khuong is one of the six ahead-of-schedule polling stations in Tuong Duong.

Voters in the communes have put aside their private business to go to the poll. Ballot boxes were sent to houses of those who are unable to reach the polling stations like the sick and the elderly.-VNA