Law on amendments to Law on Election of Deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils of Vietnam 2025

 

LAW

AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON ELECTION OF DEPUTIES TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND PEOPLE’S COUNCILS

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam amended by the Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly promulgates Law on amendments to Law No. 85/2015/QH13 on Election of Deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils.

Article 1. Amendments to Law on Election of Deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils

1. Clause 6 Article 4 shall be amended as follows:

“6. Election Commissions of cities and provinces (hereinafter referred to as “provinces”) shall hold elections of deputies to the National Assembly in local governments; Election Commissions of cities and provinces, and Election Commissions of communes, wards and special zones (hereinafter referred to as “communes”) shall hold elections of deputies to People’s Councils of provinces and communes; Election Boards, Election Teams shall hold elections of deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels as prescribed in this Law.”.

2. Clause 3 and clause 4 Article 8 shall be amended as follows:

“3. The number of women who are nominated as National Assembly candidates shall be proposed by Standing Committee of the National Assembly at the request of the Central Standing Committee of Vietnam Women’s Union, provided that at least 35% of total official National Assembly candidates are women.

4. The proposal for proportion, composition and number of nominated National Assembly candidates made by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly shall be sent to the National Election Committee, Standing Board of Central committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Election Commissions of provinces and cities, Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committees of provinces.”.

3. Article 9 shall be amended as follows:

“Article 9. Proposals for proportion, composition and number of nominated People’s Council candidates

According to the number of People’s Council deputies to be elected at each administrative division as prescribed in Law on Organization of Local Governments, with the consent of Standing Boards of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committees and People’s Committees at the same level, at least 105 days before the polling day:

1. Standing bodies of People’s Councils of provinces shall make proposals for proportion, composition and number of nominated People’s Council candidates of provinces nominated by political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, people’s armed units, regulatory agencies at the same administrative level and inferior administrative divisions, public service providers and economic organizations in administrative divisions, provided that at least 35% of total official People’s Council candidates are women; the number of candidates who are ethnics shall be determined according to ethnic characteristics and structure, and actual condition of each local government;

2. Standing bodies of People’s Councils of communes shall make proposals for proportion, composition and number of nominated People’s Council candidates of communes nominated by political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, people’s armed units, regulatory agencies of communes, villages, hamlets, mountain villages, mountain hamlets (hereinafter referred to as “villages”) and neighborhoods, public service providers and economic organizations in administrative divisions, provided that at least 35% of total official People’s Council candidates are women; the number of candidates who are ethnics shall be determined according to ethnic characteristics and structure, and actual condition of each local government;

3. The proposal for proportion, composition and number of nominated People’s Council candidates made by the Standing Body of the People’s Council at each level shall be sent to the National Election Committee, Standing Body of the People’s Council of province, Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee and Election Commission at the same level.”.

4. Clause 2 and clause 3 Article 10 shall be amended as follows:

“2. Every province shall be divided into constituencies of National Assembly deputies.

Number of constituencies, list of constituencies and number of National Assembly deputies to be elected in each constituency shall, at the request of Election Commission of the province, be determined by the National Election Commission according to the size of population and announced at least 80 days before the polling day.

3. Every province shall be divided into constituencies of People’s Council deputies of provinces. Every commune shall be divided into constituencies of People’s Council deputies of communes.

Number of constituencies of People’s Council deputies of a province or a commune, list of constituencies and number of deputies to be elected in each constituency shall, at the request of the People’s Committee at the same administrative level, be determined by the Election Commission at the same administrative level and announced at least 80 days before the polling day.”.

5. Some clauses of Article 11 shall be amended as follows:

a) Clause 2 shall be amended as follows:

“2. Each polling station shall have between three hundred and four thousand electors. In the mountainous region, islands and sparsely populated areas, they may set up polling stations although there are not enough three hundred electors.;

b) Clause 4 shall be amended as follows:

“4. The determination of polling stations shall be decided by People’s Committees of communes and approved by People’s Committees of provinces. If necessary, People’s Committees of provinces shall modify the determination of polling stations. Polling stations shall be determined before establishment of Election Teams.”,

6. Article 21 and Article 22 shall be amended as follows:

“Article 21. Local electoral organizations

Local electoral organizations shall consist of:

1. Election Commissions of provinces and communes (hereinafter referred to as “Election Commissions”).

2. Election Boards of National Assembly deputies, Election Boards of People’s Council deputies of provinces and communes (hereinafter referred to as “Election Boards”).

3. Election Teams.

Article 22. Establishment, proportion and composition of the Election Commissions

1. At least 105 days before the polling day, each People’s Committee of province shall, with the consent of the Standing body of People’s Council and the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province, decide the establishment of the Election Commission of province to carry out election of deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Council of province.

Each Election Commission of province shall consist of between 23 and 37 members namely President, Deputy Presidents, Secretary and members who are representatives of the National Assembly deputies’ delegation, the Standing body of People’s Council, the People’s Committee and Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of province and relevant agencies and organizations.

The list of Election Commissions of the province shall be sent to National Election Commission, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, and Standing board of Central committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front.

2. At least 105 days before the polling day, each People’s Committee of commune shall, with the consent of the Standing body of People’s Council and the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the commune, decide the establishment of the Election Commission of commune to carry out election of deputies to the People’s Council of commune.

Each Election Commission of commune shall consist of between 09 and 17 members namely President, Deputy Presidents, Secretary and members who are representatives of the Standing body of People’s Council, the People’s Committee and Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of commune and some relevant agencies and organizations.

The list of Election Commissions of the commune shall be sent to the Election Commission of province, the Standing body of People’s Council, the People’s Committee and the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of province.”.

7. Article 24 shall be amended as follows:

“Article 24. Election Boards

1.  At least 70 days before the polling day, with the consent of the Standing body of People’s Council and the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level, each People’s Committee of province shall decide the establishment of Election Boards, each constituency of the province shall have one Election Board. Each Election Board shall consist of between 09 and 17 members namely Head of board, Deputy Heads of board, Secretary and members who are representatives of Standing body of the People’s Council, the People’s Committee, Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level and some relevant agencies or organizations.

2. At least 70 days before the polling day, each People’s Committee of province or commune shall, with the consent of the Standing body of People’s Council and the Standing board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level, decide the establishment of Election Boards. Each Election Board of People’s Council deputies shall be established in a constituency at the same administrative level and composed of representatives of regulatory agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, and social organizations.  Each Election Board of People’s Council deputies of commune shall also have representatives of electors in the commune.

Each Election Board of People’s Council deputies of province shall have between 11 and 15 persons. Each Election Board of People’s Council deputies of commune shall have between 09 and 15 persons. Each Election Board shall be composed of Head of board, Deputy Heads of boards, Secretary and members.

3. Duties and powers of each Election Board:

a) Inspect and expedite implementation of regulations of law on election carried out by Election Teams of the constituency;

b) Inspect and expedite formulation and posting of electoral registers and list of candidates at Election Teams of the constituency;

c) Direct, inspect and expedite the arrangement of polling booths and the election in polling booths;

d)  Receive and distribute documents and ballot papers to Election Teams at least 13 days before the polling day;

dd) Receive, consolidate and inspect reports on election results sent by Election Teams; and make reports on election results of the constituency;

e) Settle complaints and denunciations of the election carried out by Election Teams and complaints and denunciations of activities sent by Election Teams; receive and send complaints and denunciations of National Assembly candidates to the Election Commission of province; and receive and send complaints and denunciations of People’s Council candidates to the Election Commission at the same administrative level;

g) Send reports on organization and implementation of election as instructed and requested by the National Election Commission or at the request of Election Commission at the same administrative level;

h) Transfer documents on election of deputies to the National Assembly to the Election Commission of province; and transfer documents on election of deputies to the People’s Council to the Election Commission at the same administrative level;

i) Hold additional election or re-election (if any).”.

8. Clause 1 Article 25 shall be amended as follows:

“1. At least 43 days before the polling day, each People’s Committee of commune shall, with the consent of the Standing body of People’s Council and the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the commune, decide the establishment of Election Teams. Each Election Team shall be established in a polling station to carry out election of deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels.  The Election Team shall consist of between 11 and 21 persons namely Team leader, Secretary and members who are representatives of regulatory agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, and representatives of electors in the commune.

Each people’s armed unit identified as a separate polling station may establish an Election Team having between 05 and 09 members namely Team leader, Secretary and members who are representatives of commander and soldiers in such people’s armed unit.

In case any people’s armed unit and a local government have a polling station, with the consent of the Standing body of People’s Council and the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level, the People’s Committee of commune and the commander of such people’s armed unit shall decide the establishment of an Election Team, which consists of between 11 and 21 members namely Team leader, Secretary and members who are representatives of regulatory agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, representatives of electors in the local government, representatives of commander and soldiers in such people’s armed unit.”

9. Clause 1 Article 31 shall be amended as follows:

“1. Electoral registers shall be made by the People’s Committee of the commune according to each polling station.”.

10. Clause 3 shall be amended and clause 4 shall be added to clause 3 Article 36 as follows:

“3. Each citizen is only entitled to submit a candidacy dossier on People’s Council deputy election up to two administrative levels in the same term; if the citizen has submitted a candidacy dossier on National Assembly deputy election, he/she is only entitled to submit a candidacy dossier on People’s Council deputy election in an administrative level.

4. If a candidate is reassigned from one administrative division to another after the time limit for submission of his/her dossier has expired, his/her dossier shall be transferred in accordance with guidelines provided by the National Election Commission.”.

11. Clause 2 Article 41 shall be amended as follows:

“2. The leading board of a state agency shall propose its persons to be National Assembly candidate(s), gather comments from the conference of electors held in the working place(s) of such persons. On the basis of these comments, the leading board of the agency shall organize a conference with the participation of the leading officials of the agency, representatives of the leading officials of the affiliated units to enter into discussion and nominate the agency’s candidate(s) for the National Assembly deputy election;

12. Clause 2 Article 42 shall be amended as follows:

“2. The leading board of a public service provider or an economic organization shall, in cooperation with the Executive Committee of the provider or organization’s Trade Union (if any); the leading board of a state agency, propose its persons to be National Assembly candidate(s), gather comments from the conference of electors held in the working place(s) of such persons. On the basis of these comments, the leading board of the agency/organization/provider shall organize a conference with the participation of the leading officials of the agency/organization/provider, representatives of the Executive Committee of the Trade Union (if any), the leading officials of the affiliated units to enter into discussion and nominate the agency/organization/provider’s candidate(s) for the National Assembly deputy election;”.

13. Clause 1 and clause 2 Article 45 shall be amended as follows:

“1. The conference of electors in a commune organized in each village where National Assembly candidate(s) permanently reside(s), shall be convened and chaired jointly by the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of such commune and the People’s Committee at the same administrative level.

The National Assembly candidates, representatives of their agencies, organizations and units shall be invited to attend this conference.

2. The conference of electors in a state agency, a political, socio-political or social organization shall be convened and chaired by its leading board; the conference of electors in a public service provider or economic organization shall be convened and chaired jointly by its Head and the Executive Committee of the Trade Union of the provider/organization; the conference of electors in a people’s armed force unit is the conference of the military personnel convened and chaired by the leader/commander of the unit.

The National Assembly candidates shall be invited to attend this conference.”.

14. Some clauses of Article 50 shall be amended as follows:

a) Clause 2 shall be amended as follows:

“2. The first consultative conference of a province shall agree on the proportion, composition and number of the People’s Council candidates nominated by political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, people’s armed units, and state agencies at the same administrative level and public service providers, economic organizations, and inferior administrative divisions in the administrative division.

b) Clause 4 shall be amended as follows:

“4. The minutes of the consultative conference must clearly state the composition and number of the participants, the process and results of this conference.

The minutes of the consultative conference of the province shall be immediately sent to Standing Committee of National Assembly, the National Election Commission, the Government, Central committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Standing body of People’s Council, and Election Commission at the same administrative level.

The minutes of the consultative conference of the commune shall be immediately sent to the Standing body of People’s Council, the People’s Committee, Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province and Standing body of People’s Council and Election Commission at the same administrative level.

15. Clause 2 Article 52 shall be amended as follows:

“2. The leading board of a public service provider or an economic organization shall, in cooperation with the Executive Committee of the provider or organization’s Trade Union (if any); the leading board of a state agency, propose its persons to be People’s Council candidate(s), gather comments from the conference of electors held in the working place(s) of such persons. On the basis of these comments, the leading board of the agency/organization/provider shall organize a conference with the participation of the leading officials of the agency/organization/provider, representatives of the Executive Committee of the Trade Union (if any), the leading officials of the affiliated units to enter into discussion and nominate the agency/organization/provider’s candidate(s) for the People’s Council deputy election;”.

16. Some clauses of Article 53 shall be amended as follows:

a) Clause 1 shall be amended as follows:

“1.  At least 40 days before the polling day, the second consultative conference at each administrative level shall be organized by the Standing board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level. The composition of the second consultative conference shall comply with Clause 1 Article 50 of this Law.”;

b) Clause 3 shall be amended as follows:

“3. The minutes of the consultative conference must clearly state the composition and number of the participants, the process and results of this conference.

The minutes of the consultative conference of the province shall be immediately sent to Standing Committee of National Assembly, the National Election Commission, the Government, Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Standing body of People’s Council, and Election Commission at the same administrative level.

The minutes of the consultative conference of the commune shall be immediately sent to the Standing body of People’s Council, the People’s Committee, Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province and Standing body of People’s Council and Election Commission at the same administrative level.”.

17. Clause 1 and clause 2 Article 54 shall be amended as follows:

“1. The conference of electors in a commune organized in each village shall be convened and chaired jointly by the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of such commune and the People’s Committee at the same administrative level.

2. The conference of electors in a state agency, a political, socio-political or social organization shall be convened and chaired by its Head; the conference of electors in a public service provider or economic organization shall be convened and chaired jointly by its Head and the Executive Committee of the Trade Union of the provider/organization (if any);   The conference of electors in a people’s armed force unit is the conference of the military personnel convened and chaired by the leader/commander of the unit.

18. Some clauses of Article 56 shall be amended as follows:

a) Clause 1 shall be amended as follows:

“1. At least 23 days before the polling day, the third consultative conference at each administrative level shall be organized by the Standing board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level.  The composition of the third consultative conference shall comply with clause 1 Article 50 of this Law.”;

b) Clause 3 shall be amended as follows:

“3. The minutes of the third consultative conference must clearly state the composition and number of the participants, the process and results of this conference.

The minutes of the consultative conference of the province shall be immediately sent to Standing Committee of National Assembly, the National Election Commission, the Government, Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Standing body of People’s Council, and Election Commission at the same administrative level.

The minutes of the consultative conference of the commune shall be immediately sent to the Standing body of People’s Council, the People’s Committee, Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province and Standing body of People’s Council and Election Commission at the same administrative level.”.

19. Clause 1 and clause 2 Article 58 shall be amended as follows:

“1. At least 21 days before the polling day, the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province shall send the minutes of the third consultative conference and the list of qualified People’s Council candidates to National Election Commission, Standing committee of the National Assembly, the Government, Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front and Standing Body of People’s Council and Election Commission at the same administrative level; the Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the commune shall send the minutes of the third consultative conference and the list of qualified People’s Council candidates to Standing Body of People’s Council, People’s Committee, Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province and Standing Body of People’s Council, Election Commission at the same administrative level.

2. At least 17 days before the polling day, the Election Commission shall draw up and announce the official list of People’s Council candidates for each constituency.

The official list of People’s Council candidates shall be drawn up as prescribed in clause 5 Article 57 of this Law.”

20. Article 66 shall be amended as follows:

“Article 66. Conference for contact with electors

1. The Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of each province shall preside over cooperating with the People’s Committee of the constituency to organize the conference for contact with electors for National Assembly and People’s Council candidates of the province. The conference for contact with electors shall be composed of representatives of local agencies, organizations and units and electors.

The Standing Board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of each commune shall cooperate with the People’s Committee of commune of the constituency to organize the conference for contact with electors for People’s Council candidates of the commune. The conference for contact with electors shall be composed of representatives of local agencies, organizations and units and electors.

The conference for contact with electors may be organized offline or, depending on the actual condition, organized online or online in combination with offline. The conference for contact with electors may be only organized online or online in combination with offline when cyberinformation security, cybersecurity and technical conditions are met.

The People’s Committee where the conference for contact with electors is organized shall inform electors of form, content, time and place of the conference and online access point.

2. Contents of the conference for contact with electors are prescribed as follows:

a) Statement of reasons;

b) The representative of the Standing board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level shall preside over the conference for contact with electors, introduce and read brief biography of candidates;

c) Each candidate shall report their Action Program to electors if he/she wins the National Assembly and People’s Council election;

d) Electors give their opinions and aspirations to candidates. The candidates and the electors shall discuss their interested issues in democratic, straight and open-minded manner;

dd) The conference chair shall close the conference.

3. After the conference for contact with electors, the Standing board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province shall send a report on organization of the conference for contact with electors for the National Assembly and People’s Council candidates of the province, and comments of electors on every candidate to National Election Commission and the Standing board of Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front. The Standing board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the commune shall send a report on organization of the conference for contact with electors for People’s Council candidates at the same administrative level to the Election Commission at the same administrative level and the Standing board of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee of the province.

21. Clause 3 Article 85 shall be amended as follows:

“3. The report shall be made into six copies and each copy shall bear the signatures of the President, Deputy Presidents of the Election Commission. Each copy of the closing report on election of People’s Council deputies of the commune shall be sent to People’s Councils, People’s Committees, and Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committees at the same level and of the province. Each copy of the closing report on election of People’s Council deputies of the province shall be sent to the People’s Council, the People’s Committee, and Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee at the same administrative level, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government and Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front.”.

22. Clause 3 shall be added after clause 2 Article 98 as follows:

“3. During the election, if any difficulties arise, the National Election Commission is assigned to proactively adjust the schedule according to actual progress and provide guidance for electoral organizations on compliance with regulations.”.

23. Some phrases in articles, clauses and points shall be replaced as follows:

a) The phrase “thị trấn” (town) shall be replaced by the phrase “đặc khu” (special zone) in clause 5 Article 37;

b) The phrase “cấp huyện” (districts) shall be replaced by the phrase “cấp xã” (communes) in clause 1 Article 39;

c) The phrase “25 ngày” (25 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “17 ngày” (17 days) in point g clause 1, point h clause 2 Article 23 and clause 4 Article 57;

d) The phrase “70 ngày” (70 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “42 ngày” (42 days) in clause 1 Article 35;

dd) The phrase “65 ngày” (65 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “40 ngày” (40 days) in clause 1 Article 43 and clause 1 Article 44;

e) The phrase “40 ngày” (40 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “35 ngày” (35 days) in clause 4 Article 46 and clause 4 Article 55;

g) The phrase “55 ngày” (55 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “38 ngày” (38 days) in Article 47;

h) The phrase “35 ngày” (35 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “23 ngày” (23 days) in clause 1 Article 48 and clause 1 Article 49;

i) The phrase “30 ngày” (30 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “21 ngày” (21 days) in clause 1 and clause 2 Article 57;

k) The phrase “20 ngày” (20 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “16 ngày” (16 days) in clause 7 Article 57 and Article 59;

l) The phrase “15 ngày” (15 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “07 ngày” (07 days) in clause 3 Article 79, clause 4 Article 80 and clause 2 Article 81;

m) The phrase “20 ngày” (20 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “10 ngày” (10 days) in clause 1 Article 86;

n) The phrase “05 ngày” (05 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “03 ngày” (03 days) in clause 1 Article 87;

o) The phrase “30 ngày” (30 days) and the phrase “20 ngày” (20 days) shall be replaced by the phrase “07 ngày” (07 days) in clause 2 Article 87.

24. Some phrases in articles, clauses and points shall be annulled as follows:

a) The phrase “Ủy ban bầu cử ở huyện” (the Election Commission of the district) in clause 4 Article 61 shall be annulled;

b) The phrase “, cấp huyện” (district) in clause 3, clause 4 Article 29; clause 3, clause 4 Article 30; clause 1 Article 51; clause 3 Article 62; clause 3 Article 89 shall be annulled;

c) The phrase “trực thuộc trung ương” (central-affiliated cities”) in Article 7; clauses 2, 3 and 5 Article 15; point a clause 1 Article 23; title of Article 39 and clause 1 Article 39; title of Article 44 and clause 1 Article 44; title of Article 49 and clause 1 Article 49; title of Article 83 and clauses 2 and 3 Article 83 shall be annulled;

25. Point c clause 1 Article 76 and Article 96 shall be annulled.

Article 2. Effect

This Law takes effect from July 01, 2025.

This Law was passed by the 15^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 9^th session, on June 24, 2025.