Strengthening the application of science and technology and digital transformation in propaganda and election campaigning

Regarding the contents of the professional guidance on organizing the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh suggested that localities strengthen the application of science and technology and digital transformation in propaganda and election campaigning to ensure accuracy, safety and information security.

Supplementing regulations on authority and principles for handling special situations

Introducing the contents of Circular No. 21/2025/TT-BNV of the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding the professional work of organizing the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026 - 2031 term, Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh said that the Circular consists of 6 chapters and 35 articles. Compared to the Circular guiding the professional work of the election for the 2021 - 2026 term, Circular No. 21 has 2 more chapters and 18 articles.

Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh speaks. Photo: Pham Thang

Regarding the organization and operation of organizations in charge of local elections, the Circular guides the establishment, composition, tasks, powers, and operating principles of the Election Committee, Election Board, and Election Team according to the provisions of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies; stipulates the establishment of Election Teams in special zones with a permanent population of less than 1,000 people to ensure compliance with the model of local government organization in a number of special zones.

Regarding the establishment, posting, review, updating of voter lists and issuance of voter cards, the Minister said that this is a new chapter of the circular to regulate the authority, principles, and procedures for establishing and posting voter lists, and handling special situations, such as permanent residents who migrate freely or people who have lost their civil capacity. At the same time, it integrates the regulations of the Ministry of Public Security on the use of the national population database, the application of VNeID in establishing lists and printing voter cards; and adds special situations such as areas with outbreaks, areas affected by natural disasters or fires, or cases where voters vote elsewhere...

Regarding the preparation work before the election day of the Election Committee, the Circular has specifically guided the contents of tasks and preparations for the election day; standardized and unified the decoration of the voting area, prepared the main ballot box, auxiliary ballot box, ballots, seals, forms, and badges.

Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh speaks. Photo: Pham Thang

In addition, instructions on assigning tasks to each member of the Election Team; strict regulations on protecting, sealing, and handing over documents to ensure safety and seriousness in preparation work; propaganda and information about the election day and the list of candidates' biographies to voters on the day before the election.

Regarding the Election Committee's work on election day, the Circular has provided instructions on the order of work on election day such as: opening, organizing voting, ending voting, and counting votes. "These are very important contents of the election. Therefore, the Circular has provided detailed instructions on the steps to be taken and situations that may arise that need to be promptly handled on election day," the Minister emphasized.

At the same time, the Circular also inherited and integrated the guiding documents on election operations of the National Election Council implemented in the 2021 election to supplement and complete the contents related to handling arising situations such as: organizing elections in areas that must be locked down due to epidemic outbreaks, areas affected by natural disasters and fires; voting by voters who are members of the people's armed forces, voters who are workers working on drilling rigs, construction sites, and fleets at sea; organizing early voting; counting votes and protecting confidential information in early voting areas; notes on how to count and calculate votes; applying science and technology, digital transformation in the process of updating election information; counting votes and summarizing vote counting results.

Regarding implementation, the Circular assigns specific responsibilities to the Ministry of Home Affairs, People's Committees at all levels and local election organizations in performing election tasks and reporting election results progress.

Accordingly, the Minister requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to carefully study the instructions, especially situations that may arise before, during and after election day, to promptly take measures to direct the best organization and implementation of election work in their localities.

Determine appropriate voting areas for the area to avoid large discrepancies

Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh also noted a number of issues regarding election operations.

Firstly , the organization of local elections when operating a two-level local government model. Unlike the election work of previous terms, the Circular guides the professional work of elections according to the two-level local government model (provincial and communal levels). Therefore, localities need to review all work related to election work; from the work of establishing organizations in charge of elections, assigning coordination between agencies, organizations, and units to prepare equipment and documents to ensure consistency and synchronization with the two-level government model and according to the instructions of competent authorities.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: Pham Thang

For example, in the past, the voting area was determined by the People's Committee at the commune level and approved by the People's Committee at the district level. For districts without commune or town level administrative units, the determination of the voting area was decided by the People's Committee at the district level. Currently, because the district level no longer exists, the determination of the voting area is decided by the People's Committee at the commune level and reported to the People's Committee at the provincial level. If necessary, the Provincial People's Committee will adjust the determination of the voting area.

Or for administrative units that are special zones, previously the island district established an Election Team and directed, but now the People's Committee of the special zone directly establishes an Election Team, assigns tasks, prepares ballot boxes and ballots, posts the list, and reports to the Provincial People's Committee.

Second , applying digital transformation technology in organizing elections. The Circular contains many new breakthroughs in the application of science and technology and digital transformation in election work. However, the application of science and technology and digital transformation in election work must be carried out carefully to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law on elections and to ensure the security and confidentiality of information on vote counting and election results.

Accordingly, the Minister requested localities to increase the application of science and technology and digital transformation in election propaganda and campaigning; in creating, updating, posting voter lists, printing voter cards, monitoring voter progress, supporting vote counting, synthesizing results to ensure accuracy, safety, and information security, in accordance with legal regulations on network information security, personal data protection, and legal regulations on elections.

Before applying technology and digital transformation in election operations, localities must develop specific plans and solutions, ensure absolute security and safety of data, and test and test the system. In case the application is related to voting methods and procedures, updating election results, vote counting process, and election results synthesis, the Provincial Election Committee must report and seek the opinion of the National Election Council before implementation.

In addition, promote direct training, online training or a combination of online and direct training for organizations in charge of elections, especially members of the Election Team because this is the force directly involved in specific operations on election day.

Third , the division of constituencies and polling areas must ensure reasonable balance and convenience for voters. To ensure that the election is consistent with the two-level local government model, the Circular has specifically regulated the division of constituencies and polling areas, determining the number of constituencies and the number of elected representatives according to the national population database as of August 31, 2025.

The Minister of Home Affairs suggested that localities carefully study the instructions to estimate the number of constituencies and determine appropriate voting areas for the area, ensuring balance, avoiding large differences, and making it convenient for voters to exercise their voting rights.

Specifically, in urban areas, new urban areas, densely populated urban areas, the number of voters fluctuates greatly, coming or going to vote elsewhere. Therefore, it is necessary to plan more constituencies, avoiding the situation where one constituency has too many voters, causing overload for the Election Team. In mountainous areas, borders, islands or sparsely populated special zones, large areas, difficult traffic, and scattered population, the division of constituencies needs to take into account the travel distance of voters so that they can vote conveniently and safely.

In case of an epidemic requiring isolation, blockade, natural disaster, or fire, the People's Committee at the commune level can establish additional separate voting areas in the isolation or blockade area after receiving approval from the People's Committee at the provincial level. The goal is to ensure a balance in the number of voters between constituencies, without too much difference; at the same time, creating the most favorable conditions for all citizens to easily exercise their right to vote.

Fourth , on some special situations and handling options. Based on previous election organization practices and the instructions of the National Election Council in the 2021 election, the Minister said that the Circular has provided professional guidance on elections for some arising situations and handling options.

The Minister requested localities to pay close attention in directing the implementation of situations such as: organizing early elections for voters who are military forces due to the nature of performing tasks at sea and on islands; isolated and blockaded areas due to epidemics; areas isolated due to natural disasters and fires; cases of sharp reduction in the number of voters at the polling station. These contents have been specified in detail and fully in Circular 21. Therefore, relevant agencies should study carefully to organize and implement them well.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, as a standing agency assisting the Government and the Prime Minister and as assigned by the National Election Council, has issued a specific plan. This includes organizing nationwide training for members and organizations in charge of elections in localities, especially training for members of the Election Team right after the Election Team is established. During the process of advising on the implementation of the election, the Ministry of Home Affairs will closely coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to effectively implement this election.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tang-cuong-ung-dung-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-chuyen-doi-so-trong-tuyen-truyen-van-dong-bau-cu-10395755.html