Young voters excited to cast their first ballots

In just a few days, voters across Vietnam, including many young people casting their ballots for the first time, will take part in a major national event, exercising their right to vote to select worthy representatives who will reflect the will and aspirations of the people in state power organs, contributing to building an increasingly strong and effective government apparatus.

Some young voters check their personal information at the voter list posting board in front of the headquarters of the Tran Bien Ward People’s Council and People’s Committee. Photo: Nga Son

For young voters, this is not only a right and a responsibility but also a milestone marking their maturity as citizens with the right to participate in important decisions of the nation.

Proactively learning about the election

Five years ago, when she was just 13 years old, Nguyen Hoang Tran (currently a first-year student in the Faculty of Finance and Accounting at Lac Hong University, Tran Bien ward) felt curious when she saw adults in her family going together to vote for deputies to the National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels. In her memory, election day felt like a festival. At polling stations, the national flag, banners, and slogans were solemnly displayed, creating a more lively atmosphere than that on ordinary days. People of different ages and professions gathered at polling stations to exercise their rights to vote.

This year, Tran has turned 18, and on March 15 she will participate in the election, choosing worthy deputies who will represent the people’s will and aspirations in the NA and People’s Councils at all levels. Sharing her feelings about voting for the first time, Tran said she feels excited and proud to contribute to selecting worthy representatives to serve in state power organs. For her, holding a ballot in her hand is not only the exercise of a citizen’s right but also a milestone marking her maturity, as she can now participate in making important decisions of the country.

“To fulfill my rights and responsibilities as a citizen in my first election, I have proactively learned about election laws, the standards for deputies to NA and People’s Councils at all levels, as well as the work history and contributions of the candidates to the locality. This helps me have a basis for selecting the most outstanding and deserving representatives,” Tran said.

Born on March 3, 2008, Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh, a student in class 12A4 at Tay Son High School (Thanh Son Commune), is among the few 12th-grade students old enough to participate in the election of deputies to NA and People’s Councils at all levels. Quynh said she feels quite nervous about voting for the first time. Over the past few days, she has proactively searched online for information related to the meaning and importance of the election, checked her personal information on the voter list, and learned about the candidates, polling locations, and voting procedures. “Proactively learning about these matters helps me better understand my rights and responsibilities, choose qualified candidates, avoid mistakes during the voting process, and contribute to improving the quality of the election,” Quynh said.

Always accompanied by the Youth Union

Alongside the proactive efforts of Youth Union members and young people, the Youth Union - as the socio-political organization of young people - has adopted practical approaches to provide its members and young people with necessary information about the election of deputies to NA and People’s Councils at all levels, especially for first-time voters.

Accordingly, on a weekly basis, the Provincial Youth Union posts thematic articles providing information on candidates’ standards, the rights and responsibilities of voters, important notes for voters, digital solutions supporting election management, and updates on election preparation progress nationwide and in Dong Nai province.

The Provincial Youth Union also designs and disseminates infographics presenting key information about the election on social media platforms, making it easy for Youth Union members, young people, and the public to access and remember important information and actively participate in the election process in accordance with regulations. In particular, from February 23 to election day, the Provincial Youth Union and its affiliated units have implemented the One Infographic Each Day Campaign across the province. At the same time, visual propaganda activities have been organized through billboards, posters, banners, and flags along major roads, administrative centers, schools, and residential areas; coordinated with local press agencies to widely disseminate information about the Law on Election of Deputies to the NA and People’s Councils, the political significance of the election, and candidates’ action programs.

Turning 20 this year, Huynh Van Cong (from Go Me neighborhood, Tran Bien ward) will also participate for the first time in the election of deputies to the NA and People’s Councils at all levels. Cong said he feels happy and excited that on March 15 he will directly participate in the election and personally choose outstanding representatives who will reflect the people’s will and aspirations in state power organs at both central and local levels. Thanks to widespread dissemination about election, candidates’ biographies, and action programs, particularly details posted on social media by authorities and sectors at all levels, including the Provincial Youth Union, Cong has had the opportunity to access and grasp basic information about the election and the candidates, helping him make informed choices of worthy representatives to serve in the NA and People’s Councils at all levels.

Each carefully considered ballot not only demonstrates civic responsibility but also offers young people the chance to affirm their role in building their homeland and the nation. Therefore, every young voter should participate in the election seriously, wisely, and responsibly in order to choose representatives with sufficient capacity, integrity, and prestige to represent the will and aspirations of the people in state power organs.

By Nga Son – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha