Those whose votes are counted after the election ends.

A reader asks: After the voting period has ended, according to regulations, who and which agency will count the votes?

The head of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command participates in voting at Polling Station No. 24, Xuan Phuong Ward ( Hanoi ). Photo: Viet Ton

Regarding this matter, the newspaper Tin Tuc va Dan Toc would like to respond as follows:

Article 24 of Circular No. 21/2025/TT-BNV of the Ministry of Interior stipulates: After the voting time has expired as prescribed, the Head of the Polling Station shall declare the voting process closed.

Only members of the Election Committee are permitted to conduct the vote counting. The Election Committee must complete the vote counting within no more than 24 hours of the end of voting at the polling station.

Vote counting must be conducted at the polling station immediately after the election ends, except in cases where supplementary ballot boxes are used for voters in areas isolated by natural disasters or fires, at offshore oil rigs and structures, and by units and fleets on duty at sea or on islands, after voters have cast their ballots but due to objective factors such as natural disasters or fires, the area is isolated, making it impossible to bring supplementary ballot boxes to the polling station on election day (or the date of the early election).

Candidates, representatives of agencies, organizations, or units nominating candidates, or authorized representatives have the right to witness the vote counting and file complaints regarding the counting process; journalists are allowed to witness the vote counting by the Election Committee, but must maintain a safe distance to allow the Election Committee to perform its duties. Registration to participate in witnessing the vote counting and filing complaints regarding the counting process is carried out according to Clause 6, Article 24 of Circular No. 21/2025/TT-BNV as follows:

Candidates must present their National Identity Card or other valid identification; representatives of agencies, organizations, or units nominating candidates must present the assignment, designation, or letter of introduction from their agency, organization, or unit, along with their National Identity Card or other valid identification; authorized representatives must present a letter of authorization and their National Identity Card or other valid identification; journalists must present their valid press card and the assignment or letter of introduction from their media organization to the Head of the Polling Station.

During the vote counting process, if any actions showing signs of violating the law are detected, the candidate, the representative of the agency, organization, or unit nominating the candidate, or their authorized representative has the right to file a complaint or denouncement on the spot with the Election Committee. These on-the-spot complaints and denunciations regarding actions showing signs of violating the law during the vote counting process will be received and resolved by the Election Committee, and the resolution details will be recorded in the minutes. If the Election Committee cannot resolve the issue, its opinion must be clearly recorded in the minutes of the complaint/denouncement resolution and forwarded to the Election Board.

Candidates, representatives of agencies, organizations, or units nominating candidates, or authorized representatives are responsible for contacting the Election Committee in advance to arrange their attendance as witnesses to the vote counting; observing the Election Committee's vote counting process from their designated location; complying with legal regulations, polling station rules, and the instructions of the Election Committee; ensuring safety and order, and not disrupting the normal operation of the Election Committee; and filing complaints or denunciations with the Election Committee if they detect any actions that show signs of violating the law during the vote counting process.

Journalists are responsible for complying with the laws and regulations on journalism, the rules of the polling station, and the instructions of the Election Committee during their work; not affecting the normal operation of the Election Committee; and providing timely, truthful, and accurate news and articles about the vote counting process to contribute to the information and propaganda work on the election of National Assembly representatives and People's Council representatives at all levels. Foreign journalists wishing to attend and report on election day activities in Vietnam must comply with the regulations in Government Decree No. 88/2012/ND-CP dated October 23, 2012, on information and journalistic activities of foreign press, foreign representative offices, and foreign organizations in Vietnam.

The polling station committee is responsible for guiding and facilitating the participation of candidates, representatives of agencies, organizations, and units nominating candidates, or their authorized representatives, and journalists in witnessing the vote counting process. They must arrange convenient observation and witnessing positions that do not interfere with the polling station committee's vote counting activities; resolve any complaints or allegations regarding the vote counting (if any); and record the resolution in the minutes.

If the issue cannot be resolved, the opinion of the Election Committee must be clearly recorded in the minutes of the complaint/denouncement resolution and forwarded to the relevant Election Board concerning the content of the complaint/denouncement. The head of the Election Committee has the right to request vote counting witnesses and journalists to leave the vote counting area if they violate the regulations of the polling station, cause insecurity or disorder, or affect the operation of the Election Committee.

In cases where supplementary ballot boxes are used for voters in areas isolated due to natural disasters or fires, at offshore oil rigs and structures, and by units and fleets on duty at sea or on islands:

After voters have cast their ballots, but due to objective factors such as natural disasters or fires that cause the area to be cut off, making it impossible to bring supplementary ballot boxes to the polling station on election day (or the scheduled early election day), members of the Election Committee in charge of supplementary ballot boxes are allowed to conduct vote counting in the area cut off by natural disasters or fires, at offshore oil rigs, offshore structures, units, and ships on duty at sea or on islands, in accordance with the law, and report the vote counting results by telegram, telephone, or other appropriate means to the Head of the Election Committee.

Members of the Election Committee are responsible for the accuracy of information regarding the vote count results; they must submit the supplementary ballot box, ballots, and the vote count results in the supplementary ballot box immediately upon returning to the polling station.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giai-ma-muon-mat/nhung-nguoi-duoc-kiem-phieu-sau-khi-ket-thuc-bau-cu-20260315200427512.htm