Haiphong proactively prepares for election day in mountainous and island regions

Convenient allocation of polling stations

Nguyen Trai Ward was established through the merger of three former communes and wards of Chi Linh City—Ben Tam, Bac An and Hoang Hoa Tham—with a total natural area of 76.28 square kilometers and a population of more than 16,000 people, representing 17 ethnic groups.

It is the ward with the largest area among Haiphong’s communes and wards, yet it has the lowest population density and the most mountainous terrain. As a result, the allocation of polling stations must ensure convenience for voters.

The Nguyen Trai Ward People’s Committee has decided to establish 23 polling stations, including 20 located in residential quarters. Polling locations are mainly set up at local cultural houses, which are familiar and easily accessible to residents.

“More than 60 percent of the ward’s area is mountainous, and some residential groups have a small and scattered number of voters. We have therefore merged nearby groups into a single polling station, while ensuring that the farthest distance from a voter’s home to a polling location is only 2–3 kilometers, making it convenient for voters to cast their ballots,” said Mr. Le Van Khoa, Vice Chairman of the Nguyen Trai Ward People’s Committee.

Nguyen Trai Ward is also home to three military units with a large number of voters, whose numbers are expected to change as soldiers are discharged, while a new intake of recruits is scheduled for early March. Three polling stations have been established at these military units.

The Ward Election Committee is working closely with the units to closely monitor the actual situation and regularly update voter numbers and lists at each stage, ensuring no voter is missed and creating the most favorable conditions for voters to exercise their rights and civic duty.

Flexible organization of early voting in special zones

Bach Long Vi Special Zone has distinctive geographical features and has been proposed to hold the election one day earlier than the date prescribed by regulations. Haiphong City currently has two special zones: Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi.

Notably, Bach Long Vi Special Zone is located 120 nautical miles from the mainland. Travel between the mainland and the island faces numerous difficulties and is heavily dependent on weather conditions.

In the elections held in 2016 and 2021, the central authorities allowed Bach Long Vi District—now Bach Long Vi Special Zone—to organize voting earlier than the nationwide election day.

This year, the Steering Committee of the Haiphong City Party Committee for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term has also agreed to propose that the National Election Council approve early voting—one day ahead of the official election day—in polling stations within Bach Long Vi Special Zone, along with allocating funding to support election activities in this special island area.

In Bach Long Vi Special Zone, voting is expected to take place on March 14 (Saturday).

According to the Haiphong Department of Home Affairs, holding early voting will help ensure proactive and smooth preparation of conditions and implementation of necessary steps toward election day at polling stations in the special zones, while maintaining the city’s overall schedule.

Currently, communes, wards and special zones are conducting the second round of consultative conferences to collect opinions from voters at their places of residence regarding the candidates. As election day approaches, the city’s proactive and flexible organization of the election—tailored to practical conditions and the specific characteristics of each locality and unit—will help ensure and facilitate all voters in exercising their rights and civic duties, enabling them to make objective and fair choices.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Haiphong City has closely coordinated with the City People’s Committee and relevant agencies to guide local authorities in thoroughly reviewing population data, transport conditions and residential areas, ensuring the principle of maximum convenience for voters—especially the elderly, persons with disabilities and workers in industrial parks. The arrangement is designed to align with administrative boundaries and residential areas following recent restructuring, avoiding overlaps, omissions of voters, or overly crowded polling stations that could hinder organization and negatively affect voters’ and citizens’ voting rights.

Based on recent inspections conducted by working teams, localities have seriously and effectively implemented these requirements. This will serve as an important foundation for the election in Haiphong to truly become a festival of the entire people.

Phong Tuyet