Ethnic minority communities look forward to election day

On March 15, eligible voters in ethnic minority areas will join fellow citizens across the province and the nation in exercising their civic rights and responsibilities by casting ballots to elect deputies to the 16th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term.

Cham Sa (front row, far right), Head Imam of Thuan Phu Mosque (Thuan Loi commune), and other reputable individuals among ethnic minority communities attend a conference to disseminate information about the election. Photo: Van Truyen

In addition to exercising their right to vote, 481 reputable individuals among ethnic minority communities and 98 village elders, along with officials and Party members who are ethnic minorities, are actively disseminating information and mobilizing the community to support the election.

Promoting election awareness

As election day approaches, reputable individuals among ethnic minority communities, village elders, ethnic minority officials, and Party members are intensifying their communication and advocacy activities within their communities.

Tho Ut, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, said during preparations for the election, reputable individuals, village elders, as well as cadres and Party members from ethnic minority communities serve as bridges between Party committees, authorities, and ethnic minority communities by conveying election information to local people.

Do Ho Sen, a reputable individual among ethnic minority communities and Head Imam of Binh Son Mosque (in Long Thanh commune), said that the Cham people live in concentrated communities around the mosque, so communication about the election is very convenient. Notably, this round of election communication coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which makes the dissemination efforts more effective, as the community gathers at the mosque for religious activities every evening. During the communication process, he reminds residents to remember the date, time, and locations of voting. A list of candidates is posted in the mosque’s premises, and he also encourages people to proactively learn about the candidates to select representatives for elected bodies over the next five years.

Dong Nai Province is home to more than 421,000 ethnic minority residents, accounting for nearly 9.4% of the province’s population and representing 37 ethnic groups.

According to Dieu Giot, a reputable person among ethnic minority communities and Head of Mang Cai hamlet (Loc Tan commune), among the 287 households in the hamlet, 173 belong to the S’tieng, Muong, and Choro ethnic groups. In the days leading up to the election, he reminds people to remember the voting date and time. Since early March 2026, when the list of candidates was posted at the gate of his house, he has informed local residents to come and learn about the candidates, take photos of the information, and then share with family members for further discussion and consideration.

According to Dieu Giot, ethnic minority people hope that those elected will continue to represent them in conveying their expectations to the State, especially the expectation for sustained attention and preferential policies in stabilizing their lives and narrowing the development gap between border ethnic minority residential areas and inland communes.

In addition, ethnic minority officials and Party members are also using various methods, including social media platforms, to share election information through community Zalo groups, helping the information spread more widely and quickly within residential areas.

Lam Nho, a Party member from the Khmer ethnic group (Loc Thanh commune), shared that as early as January 2026, he attended a conference held by the provincial government to disseminate information about the election. During the conference, he carefully noted the key contents and later conveyed them to fellow villagers through mobile applications as well as direct meetings with local residents.

Ethnic minority voters remember election day

Together with voters across the province, ethnic minority voters have now received voter cards provided by local authorities in preparation for exercising their civic rights and duties on March 15.

Dao Van Minh (a Choro ethnic group member, residing in Song Ray commune) said this year he is nearly 70 years old. Since the country’s reunification, he has participated in every election of deputies to NA and People’s Councils at all levels. In addition to himself, other members of his family are also of voting age. On March 15, his entire family plans to go to the polling station right after it opens to exercise their right to mastery.

According to Dieu Phi Chau, a member of the S’tieng ethnic group and Secretary of the Youth Union branch of Mang Cai hamlet (Loc Tan commune), he and other local youth have already been informed about the voting procedure for the upcoming election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

Everyone clearly understands the five-step voting process: presenting the voter card, receiving the ballot, marking the ballot in the private booth at the polling station, casting the ballot into the ballot box, and receiving the “voted” stamp. Regarding the schedule, the community was informed that voting officially begins at 7:00 and ends at 19:00 on the same day. Voting may start earlier but not before 5:00 and may end later but not later than 21:00. When the hamlet carries out the election on March 15, he and the young people of voting age will join their family members to promptly exercise their civic rights and responsibilities.

In addition, ethnic minority communities in the province also remind one another to wear their traditional ethnic costumes on election day to add more color to this national festival day.

Lam Chon Nam (a Khmer ethnic group member in Dinh Quan commune) said that voting is both right and responsibility of citizens, including ethnic minority communities. To celebrate and contribute to showcasing the diverse and colorful picture of the brotherly ethnic groups within the great national unity bloc, he and other ethnic minority voters have agreed to wear their traditional costumes to express their joy on this upcoming national festival day.

By Van Truyen – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha