NA Vice Chairman inspected election work in Lao Cai:Promoting the role of commune-level authorities in elections
During their inspection and supervision of the election process in Lao Cai province, the delegation of the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Election Council, led by NA Vice Chairman Le Minh Hoan, noted the need to strengthen the role of commune-level authorities – the level of government closest to the people – in promptly understanding the thoughts and aspirations of the people.
Closely monitoring every specific task at each polling station
In a summary report on election work in the province, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen The Phuoc, stated that the Provincial Election Committee was established according to Decision No. 2043/QD-UBND dated November 24, 2025, of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee; all commune-level People's Committees have decided to establish 99 commune-level People's Council election committees, ensuring the number, structure, composition, and timeframe comply with the law. By January 3, 2026, all 99/99 communes and wards had issued decisions to establish commune-level People's Council election committees; the total number of commune-level People's Council election committees is 600.
The Provincial Department of Internal Affairs has advised the Provincial Election Committee on the proposed structure of subcommittees: Propaganda; Security, social order and safety; and Health ; receiving and resolving complaints and denunciations regarding elections; along with a support team consisting of 16 groups responsible for 99 communes and wards.
In addition, the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department and local media agencies, has developed a unified propaganda plan throughout the province, focusing on disseminating the meaning and importance of the election; the rights and obligations of voters; and the legal regulations on elections, contributing to creating social consensus and raising public awareness.
By December 10, 2025, all 99 commune-level units had held their first consultative meetings, ensuring compliance with the legally mandated timeframe. The minutes of the consultative meetings have been sent to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Election Committee (Department of Internal Affairs) and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee.
The Director of the Department of Internal Affairs of Lao Cai province also stated that the province's direct supervision of the election process in 99 communes poses significant challenges in terms of organization, personnel, and technology, with the workload increasing many times over. The nature of the work is also more complex, as the provincial level must closely monitor each specific task at each polling station, instead of simply directing key points and providing general guidance as in previous elections.
According to the Director of the Department of Internal Affairs of Lao Cai province, thanks to the effective implementation of election regulations at the grassroots level, agencies, and units, the process of selecting and nominating candidates has ensured the number and structure, especially in terms of standards and quality.
Furthermore, in the context of the urgent need for digital transformation, Lao Cai must ensure a smooth information system so that all 99 communes can input candidate data, report results, and receive directives electronically. Providing synchronized training in these skills to all communes within a short period of time is also a significant challenge.
Proactive local budgeting and timely support from the central government budget
The inspection team noted that, at the time of the inspection, Lao Cai was implementing the election process well, ensuring it was on schedule. However, Deputy Chairman of the People's Petition and Supervision Committee Hoang Anh Cong - a member of the inspection team - noted that this election had many new features compared to previous elections, such as: shortening the election process, reducing the time from the end of the application submission period to the election day from 70 days to 42 days, requiring guidance from the province down to the communes to be "extremely urgent and accurate".
Lao Cai is a mountainous, border province with a fragmented terrain and many ethnic minority groups living in remote areas. Therefore, the members of the inspection and monitoring delegation emphasized that the direct guidance from the provincial level down to the commune level requires highly creative, diverse, and persistent information and communication solutions to help voters correctly understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens in the election.
To ensure resources for the election, members of the Supervisory and Inspection Delegation also noted that all levels of government and relevant agencies need to coordinate closely, adhering strictly to legal regulations and specific guidelines from the Central Government. In particular, the smooth coordination between proactive local budget allocation and timely support from the Central Government, as well as thorough review of infrastructure, is the "key" to ensuring resources for a successful election.
Addressing the issue of financial resources, Deputy Minister of Finance Le Tan Can, a member of the inspection and supervision delegation, stated that the preparation of funds was carried out according to the principle that the state budget ensures funding for this important political task. To increase efficiency and flexibility in budget management and utilization, funding for the election is clearly decentralized between the central and local levels. Accordingly, provinces and cities proactively allocate local budget resources to meet organizational requirements in accordance with the guidelines in the Ministry of Finance's Circular.
In order to support disadvantaged localities, especially those in mountainous or highland areas, or those unable to balance their budgets independently, Deputy Minister Le Tan Can stated that the Ministry of Finance will compile and submit proposals to the Government for consideration and resolution, ensuring sufficient resources for the election process.
Members of the inspection and monitoring team also noted that logistics and preparation of facilities for the election need to be thoroughly reviewed and standardized. Emphasis should be placed on repairing and maintaining the public address systems in villages, as these are the most direct and effective tools for reaching voters in rural and mountainous areas.
Emphasizing that human resources are a prerequisite for the effective operation of resources serving the election, the Supervisory and Inspection Team suggested that Lao Cai strengthen professional training for officials in polling areas, especially after the merger of communes; and consolidate key personnel positions that are still lacking at the local level to ensure the smooth operation of the apparatus throughout the preparation and organization of the election.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan - Head of the inspection and supervision delegation - noted that Lao Cai, being bordering the country, is prone to complex security and order issues. Therefore, the province needs to proactively grasp the situation; promote the role of commune-level authorities - the level of government closest to the people - to promptly understand the thoughts and aspirations of the people; and propagate and mobilize people to participate in the election, so that election day truly becomes a national festival, a festival for all the people.
