Law on Election of People's Council Deputies No. 20-LCT/HĐNN8

 

LAW

ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL

To promote the people's right to mastery, expand socialist democracy, and strengthen the effectiveness of local state power organs;

Pursuant to Article 7 and Article 83 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

This Law stipulates the election of representatives to People's Councils at all levels.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

The election of representatives to People's Councils shall be conducted on the principles of universal suffrage, equality, direct voting, and secret ballot.

Article 2

Citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, regardless of ethnicity, gender, social stratum, religious belief, educational level, profession, or period of residence, who are eighteen years old or older have the right to vote, and those who are twenty-one years old or older have the right to run for election as representatives to People's Councils in accordance with the provisions of the law, except those who are mentally incapacitated and those whose rights have been deprived by law or by the People's Court.

Citizens serving in the Vietnam People's Army have the right to vote and the right to run for election as representatives to People's Councils.

Article 3

Representatives to People's Councils must be loyal to the country and socialism, possess knowledge about state administration, economy, society, understand and set an example in complying with the law, have the ability to perform the duties of a representative to People's Councils, and resolutely struggle to protect the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of citizens.

Article 4

Citizens meeting the conditions and criteria specified in Articles 2 and 3 of this Law may only be elected as representatives to People's Councils at no more than two levels; if they are currently members of the National Assembly, they may only be elected as representatives to People's Councils at one level.

Article 5

Voters have the right to remove representatives to People's Councils if such representatives are unworthy of the trust of the people.

Article 6

The right to nominate candidates for representatives to People's Councils belongs to social organizations, voter groups at the grassroots level, and units of the Vietnam People's Army.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the local level is responsible for organizing consultation meetings to introduce lists of candidates for representatives to People's Councils and, together with administrative agencies, organize the elections.

, Clause 1, Clause 2 Article 7a of this Regulation.

The State Council oversees the election of representatives to People's Councils, ensuring that the elections are democratic and conducted in accordance with the law.

The Council of Ministers directs provincial-level People's Committees to implement election work in accordance with the law.

Article 8

The budget of the State finances the costs of organizing the election of representatives to People's Councils.

PART II

THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES TO PEOPLE'S COUNCILS,

ELECTORAL UNITS AND VOTING AREAS

Article 9

The number of representatives to People's Councils at each level is as follows:

1- People's Councils of communes, wards, and towns:

Communes and towns in the lowlands with up to three thousand people elect twenty-five representatives, and for every additional five hundred people over three thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed thirty-five representatives.

Communes and towns in mountainous areas and islands with up to one thousand people elect twenty-five representatives, and for every additional two hundred people over one thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed thirty-five representatives.

Communes with up to five hundred people elect fifteen representatives.

Wards with up to three thousand people elect twenty-five representatives, and for every additional one thousand people over three thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed thirty-five representatives.

2- People's Councils of districts, urban districts, towns, and cities under provinces:

Districts in the lowlands and urban districts with up to seventy thousand people elect thirty-five representatives, and for every additional eight thousand people over seventy thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed fifty representatives.

Districts in mountainous areas and islands with up to thirty thousand people elect thirty-five representatives, and for every additional three thousand people over thirty thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed fifty representatives.

Towns with up to thirty thousand people elect thirty-five representatives, and for every additional five thousand people over thirty thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed fifty representatives.

Cities under provinces with up to seventy thousand people elect thirty-five representatives, and for every additional ten thousand people over seventy thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed fifty representatives.

3- People's Councils of provinces, centrally-administered cities, and equivalent levels:

Provinces in the lowlands and centrally-administered cities with up to one million people elect sixty representatives, and for every additional twenty thousand people over one million, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed one hundred representatives.

Provinces in mountainous areas with up to five hundred thousand people elect sixty representatives, and for every additional fifteen thousand people over five hundred thousand, one additional representative is elected, but the total number does not exceed one hundred representatives.

Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City elect no more than one hundred twenty representatives.

Vung Tau - Con Dao Special Zone elects fifty representatives.

Article 10

Representatives to People's Councils are elected according to electoral units. Each electoral unit for representatives to People's Councils elects no more than three representatives.

Article 11

The number of electoral units for representatives to People's Councils at the provincial and centrally-administered city levels and equivalent levels, the list of units, and the number of representatives from each unit are determined by the Provincial People's Committee and Centrally-Administered City People's Committee and must be approved by the Council of Ministers.

The number of electoral units for representatives to People's Councils at other levels, the list of units, and the number of representatives from each unit are determined by the People's Committee at the same level and must be approved by the higher-level People's Committee.

Article 12

The list of electoral units for representatives to People's Councils at any level must be announced by the People's Committee at that level, no later than fifty days before the election day.

Article 13

Each electoral unit may be divided into several polling stations; each polling station includes from five hundred to four thousand people.

For communes and towns in the lowlands with fewer than four thousand people, as well as for villages and hamlets in mountainous and island areas that are far apart, even if there are less than five hundred people, a polling station can still be established.

Hospitals, nursing homes, maternity houses, and homes for the disabled with fifty voters or more may organize separate polling stations.

Article 14

The division of polling areas shall be determined by the People's Committee of communes, wards, towns and must be approved by the directly superior People's Committee.

Article 15

Military units organize separate polling areas.

CHAPTER III

ELECTION COMMITTEE, ELECTION BOARD, ELECTION TEAM

Article 16

Organizations responsible for electing representatives to the People's Council include the Election Committee, Election Board, and Election Team.

Article 17

At least sixty days before the election day for representatives of the People's Council at any level, the People's Committee and the People's Front Committee at that level shall have the responsibility to establish an Election Committee consisting of from five to twenty-one members representing social organizations and voter groups in the locality.

The Election Council elects the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary.

The list of the Election Committee of provinces, centrally governed cities, and equivalent levels must be reported to the State Council, Council of Ministers, and the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. The list of the Election Committees at other levels must be reported to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the People's Committee, and the People's Front Committee at the directly superior level.

The Election Committee has the following duties and powers:

1- Supervise and urge the implementation of laws on the election of representatives to the People's Council in the locality;

2- Examine and resolve complaints about election work from the Election Boards and Election Teams;

3- Receive applications and lists of candidates for representatives to the People's Council, examine and resolve complaints regarding the establishment of such lists;

4- Receive voting materials from the People's Committee at the same level and distribute them to the Election Boards at least twenty days before the election day;

5- Receive and inspect voting records sent by the Election Boards, prepare a record of the election results in the locality;

6- Announce the election results;

7- Transfer the summary voting record to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the People's Committee, and the People's Front Committee at the same level and the directly superior level; if it is an election for representatives to the People's Council of provinces, centrally governed cities, and equivalent levels, then transfer the summary voting record to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the People's Committee, and the People's Front Committee at the same level, while reporting to the State Council, Council of Ministers, and the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; transfer the election-related files and documents to the People's Committee at the same level.

Article 18

At least forty days before the election day for representatives of the People's Council at any level, the People's Committee and the People's Front Committee at that level shall have the responsibility to establish an Election Board in each electoral unit consisting of from five to fifteen members representing social organizations and voter groups in the locality.

The Election Board elects its Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary.

The Election Board has the following duties and powers:

1- Supervise and urge the Election Teams to comply with the laws on elections;

2- Inspect the establishment and posting of voter lists;

3- Receive voting materials from the Election Committee. Distribute voting materials to the Election Teams at least ten days before the election day;

4- Supervise and urge the arrangement of polling rooms and voting procedures in all polling rooms;

5- Examine and resolve complaints about the work of the Election Teams;

6- Receive, compile, and inspect voting records sent by the Election Teams, based on which establish a record confirming the election results in their electoral unit;

7- Transfer the record confirming the election results to the Election Committee and the Standing Committee of the People's Council, the People's Committee, and the People's Front Committee at the same level.

Article 19

At least thirty days before the election day, the People's Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of communes, wards, towns shall have the responsibility to establish an Election Team in each polling area consisting of from five to nine members representing social organizations and voter groups in the locality. In cases where the electoral unit only has one polling area, the Election Board will concurrently perform the duties of the Election Team.

Military units establish an Election Team in each polling area consisting of military representatives within the unit.

Military units establish a polling station in each voting area consisting of five to nine members including the Head, Deputy Head, Secretary, and other members who are representatives of command and military personnel.

The Election Team has the following duties and powers:

1- Manage the election work in the polling area;

2- Arrange the polling station and prepare ballot boxes;

3- Issue ballots stamped by the Election Team to voters;

4- Ensure strict compliance with the rules of the polling room;

5- Count votes and prepare a vote counting record;

6- Examine and resolve complaints about election work in the polling area;

7- Transfer the vote counting record and all ballots to the People's Committee of communes, wards, towns; transfer the vote counting record to the Election Board and the People's Front Committee of communes, wards, towns.

Article 20

The Election Committee, Election Board, and Election Team shall not campaign for candidates.

PART IV

Voters who are students, pupils, and trainees at vocational schools, universities, colleges, and specialized secondary schools, and voters who are military personnel in military units are included in the voter list to vote for provincial and district-level People's Council deputies in their temporary residence or garrison locations.

Article 21

When compiling the voter list, all citizens eligible to vote for representatives of the People's Council at all levels shall be included in the voter list of their place of residence.

Each voter may only be listed in one voter list.

Article 22

The voter list is established by the People's Committee of communes, wards, towns according to polling areas.

The voter list in military units is compiled by the unit command according to each polling area.

Article 23

At least thirty days before the election day, the agency compiling the voter list must post the list at the People's Committee office of communes, wards, towns and in public places of the polling area; simultaneously, widely announce the list and its posting so that the people can check the voter list.

"d) Within no more than one working day from the date of receiving the dossier submitted for administrative procedures by the specialized agency assigned by the Provincial People's Committee, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall issue a notification of the result of the inspection of plant-based food exports or a certificate at the request of the importing country."

When checking the voter list, if errors or omissions are found, anyone may file a complaint or report in writing or orally to the agency compiling the voter list within twenty days from the date of posting. The agency compiling the voter list must record these complaints or reports in a logbook. Within five days from the date of receiving the complaint or report, the agency compiling the voter list must resolve it and inform the complainant or reporter of the resolution result.

If the complainant or reporter disagrees with the resolution, they have the right to appeal to the People's Court of districts, urban districts, provincial cities. Within five days from the date of receiving the appeal, the People's Court must resolve it. The decision of the People's Court is final.

Article 25

From the date of publication of the voter list until the day of the election, if a voter changes their place of residence, they have the right to request a certificate from the People's Committee of the current place of residence to be registered on the voter list and participate in voting at the new place of residence. When issuing the certificate, the People's Committee must immediately record in the voter list next to the name of that person: "Voting at another location."

CHAPTER V

LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVES

PROVINCIAL/DISTRICT PEOPLE'S COUNCIL

Article 26

At least twenty days from the date of announcing the election time, the People's Front Committee at the local level shall organize a consultation meeting to agree on the ratio of the number of candidates for representatives of the People's Councils at all levels for the electoral groups at the grassroots level, social organizations, and units of the People's Army.

Based on the agreed ratio, meetings of grassroots electoral groups, meetings of social organizations at various levels, meetings of voters in communes, wards, towns, and meetings of units of the People's Army shall proceed to nominate candidates for representatives of the People's Councils.

At these meetings, citizens have the right to self-nominate or nominate others as candidates for representatives of the People's Councils. A candidate who receives more than half of the members' approval at the meeting will be recorded in the nomination list of the meeting.

Based on the nomination lists of the aforementioned meetings and the allocation ratio, the People's Front Committee at the local level has the responsibility to organize a consultation meeting to agree on establishing a list of candidates for representatives of the People's Councils and allocate them according to the electoral units.

A candidate for a representative of the People's Council at a certain locality must be a resident or regularly work in that locality.

The number of candidates in each electoral unit must exceed the number of representatives to be elected in that unit so that voters can choose to vote when casting ballots.

Article 27

A candidate may only be listed as a candidate in one electoral unit and may not participate in the election organizations specified in Chapter III of this Law.

Article 28

At least forty days before the election day, the People's Front Committee at the local level must send the list of candidates for representatives of the People's Councils by electoral unit and the dossier including:

1- Nomination letters of the candidates;

2- Certificate from the local People's Committee confirming that the candidates meet the conditions stipulated in Article 2 of this Law;

3- Brief resumes of the candidates.

Upon receiving the above documents, the Election Council must issue a receipt.

The Election Council must publish the list of candidates by electoral unit at least thirty days before the election day.

Article 29

Within twenty days from the date of publication of the list of candidates for representatives of the People's Councils, voters have the right to review the resumes and activities of the candidates. If anyone finds errors or omissions in the list, they have the right to lodge complaints or reports in writing or orally with the Election Council. The Election Council must record such complaints or reports in the logbook.

Within five days from the date of receiving complaints or reports, the Election Council must resolve them; the decision of the Election Council is final.

Article 30.

The Vietnam People's Front, social organizations at various levels, grassroots electoral groups, and military units organize meetings between candidates and voters and, according to the law, have the right to campaign for the candidates.

Candidates must clearly report their program of action to the voters and have the right to campaign for themselves within the scope prescribed by law.

Chapter VI

ELECTION PROCEDURE

PART 1

ELECTION TIME

Article 31

The State Council sets the election day for representatives of the People's Councils at all levels.

The election day must be set on a Sunday and announced at least ninety days before the election day.

In special cases where it is impossible to hold elections according to the term of the People's Council, the State Council shall examine and determine.

Article 32

Ten days before the election day, the election team must continuously inform voters about the election day, polling place, and voting time through all available local information means.

 

PART 2

VOTING PROCEDURE

Article 33

Voting takes place from seven o'clock to nineteen o'clock on the same day. Depending on the situation, the election team may decide to start earlier and end later than the prescribed time, but not extend beyond twenty-two o'clock.

Where 100% of voters have already voted, the election team may conclude the voting early.

Article 34

Voters have the right to cast only one ballot and must vote in person, cannot delegate someone else to vote on their behalf, and cannot vote by mail, except as provided in Article 35 of this Law.

Article 35

If a voter cannot write their ballot, they may ask someone to write it for them. The proxy writer must ensure the secrecy of the voter's ballot and the voter must cast the ballot themselves. If due to disability they cannot cast the ballot themselves, the voter may ask someone to deposit the ballot in the ballot box.

Voters who are sick, elderly, or disabled and cannot go to the polling station may request the election team to bring the supplementary ballot box and ballots to their residence to vote. In this case, the election team may bring the supplementary ballot box to the voter's residence to collect ballots.

Article 36

When a voter writes a ballot, no one may observe, including election team staff.

If a ballot is spoiled, the voter has the right to request the election team to provide a new ballot.

Article 37

Everyone must comply with the rules of the polling station. No one may campaign for candidates in the polling station.

Article 38

After the voting time has ended, if there are still some voters present in the polling station who have not yet voted, the election team must wait until those voters finish voting before declaring the conclusion of the voting.

Article 39

On election day, voting must be conducted continuously. If there is an unexpected event interrupting the voting process, the election team must immediately seal all papers and ballot boxes and report to the Election Board; at the same time, necessary measures must be taken to continue the voting.

Article 40

If there is a special reason to postpone the voting day, the election team must promptly report to the Election Board to request the Election Council to examine and determine.

 

Chapter VII

ELECTION RESULTS

PART 1

COUNTING OF BALLOTS

Article 41

Ballot counting must be conducted in the polling station immediately after the conclusion of voting. The election team must invite two voters who are not candidates to witness the ballot counting.

Candidates and journalists, photographers, film, television, and radio reporters are allowed to observe the ballot counting.

Article 42 |||

The following ballots are invalid:

1- Not a ballot issued according to the prescribed form by the election team;

2- Without the stamp of the election team;

3- Record the names of candidates exceeding the number of representatives to be elected.

1. The "Labor Medal" second class shall be awarded or posthumously awarded to individuals meeting one of the following criteria:

A blank ballot is a ballot that has all the names of candidates recorded on it erased.

Article 44 |||

When there is doubt about whether a ballot is invalid or a blank ballot, the Head of the Election Team must bring it before the entire team for resolution.

Article 45 |||

Ballots that record the names of candidates along with the names of non-candidates are still considered valid ballots, but the names of non-candidates shall not be counted.

The Election Team shall not erase or correct any names recorded on the ballots.

Article 46 |||

Complaints at the polling station regarding ballot counting received by the Election Team shall be handled and the resolution recorded in the minutes. If the Election Team cannot resolve them, they must be referred to the Election Board for resolution.

Article 47 |||

Upon completion of the ballot counting, the Election Team must prepare minutes detailing:

- Total number of voters in the polling area;

- The number of ballots issued; the number of ballots collected;

- The number of voters who cast ballots;

- Number of valid ballots;

- Number of invalid ballots;

- The number of blank ballots;

- Number of votes cast for each candidate;

- Received complaints and their resolutions, unresolved complaints.

The minutes shall be made in three copies, signed by the Head, Secretary, and two voters invited to witness the ballot counting; one copy sent to the Election Board, one copy sent to the People's Committee of the commune, ward, town, and one copy sent to the People's Front Committee at the same level.

PART 2

a) The number of People's Council representatives allocated to the electoral unit;

Article 48

After receiving the minutes from the Election Teams, the Election Board shall check these minutes and prepare minutes determining the election results in their electoral unit.

The minutes must clearly state:

- The number of representatives to the People's Council allocated to the electoral unit;

- The number of candidates;

- Total number of voters in the electoral unit;

- The number of ballots issued; the number of ballots collected;

- The number of voters who cast ballots, the number of voters who did not cast ballots, and the ratio of voters who cast ballots to the total number of voters;

- Number of valid ballots;

- Number of invalid ballots;

- The number of blank ballots;

- Number of votes cast for each candidate;

- List of successful candidates;

- Complaints resolved by the Election Team;

- Complaints resolved by the Election Board; complaints referred to the Election Council for resolution.

The minutes shall be made in four copies, signed by the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary; one copy sent to the Election Council, one copy sent to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, one copy sent to the People's Committee, and one copy sent to the People's Front Committee at the same level as the Election Board. For the election of representatives to the People's Council at the commune, ward, and town levels, the minutes shall be made in three copies.

Article 49

Candidates who receive more than half of the valid votes and have the highest number of votes shall be elected. If several candidates receive the same number of votes, the Election Council shall examine and decide the elected candidates based on the recommendations of the People's Front Committee at the same level and the Election Board in the electoral unit.

PART 3

ADDITIONAL ELECTIONS OR RE-ELECTIONS

Article 50

In the first election, if the number of elected candidates does not reach two-thirds of the number of representatives allocated to the electoral unit, the Election Board must clearly note this in the minutes and immediately report to the Election Council to decide the date for additional elections for the remaining representatives, no later than fifteen days after the first election. In the additional election, voters can only choose from the list of candidates who were not elected in the first round. If the additional election does not result in the required number of representatives, a second additional election will not be organized.

Article 51

In any electoral unit where the number of voters casting ballots does not exceed half of the registered voters, the Election Board must clearly note this in the minutes and immediately report to the Election Council to decide the date for re-election, no later than fifteen days after the first election day. In the re-election, voters can only choose from the list of candidates in the first round.

Article 52

Additional elections or re-elections shall still be based on the voter list established for the first election and according to the provisions set forth in this Law.

PART 4

SUMMARY OF THE ELECTION

Article 53

After receiving the minutes from the Election Boards and resolving any complaints, if any, the Election Council shall prepare minutes summarizing the election.

The Election Council shall publicly announce the election results according to the content of the summary minutes prescribed in Article 54 of this Law, no later than:

- Five days after the election day for the People's Council at the commune, ward, and town levels;

- Seven days after the election day for the People's Council at the district, urban district, and provincial city levels;

- Ten days after the election day for the People's Council at the mountainous district, island district, province, centrally-administered city, and equivalent levels;

- Fifteen days after the election day for the People's Council at the mountainous province level.

Article 54

The summary minutes must clearly state:

- The total number of representatives allocated to that level of the People's Council;

- Total number of candidates;

- Total number of voters;

- The number of ballots issued; the number of ballots collected;

- The number of voters who cast ballots, the number of voters who did not cast ballots, and the ratio of voters who cast ballots to the total number of voters;

- Number of valid ballots;

- Number of invalid ballots;

- The number of blank ballots;

- Number of votes cast for each candidate;

- List of successful candidates;

- Important events that occurred and their resolution.

The minutes shall be made in six copies, signed by the Chairman, Deputy Chairmen, and Secretary of the Election Council; one copy sent to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, one copy sent to the People's Committee, one copy sent to the People's Front Committee at the level electing the People's Council; one copy sent to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, one copy sent to the People's Committee, one copy sent to the People's Front Committee at the higher level directly above; if it is the election of representatives to the People's Council at the provincial and centrally-administered city levels and equivalent levels, one copy sent to the Standing Committee of the People's Council, one copy sent to the People's Committee, one copy sent to the People's Front Committee at the same level, one copy sent to the State Council, one copy sent to the Council of Ministers, one copy sent to the Central Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee. For the election of representatives to the People's Council at the commune, ward, and town levels, the minutes shall be made in five copies.

Article 55

The State Council decides to cancel the election of representatives to the People's Council in units where serious violations of the law occur. The State Council sets the date for re-election in the electoral unit for representatives to the People's Council.

Article 56

During the period from the announcement of the election results to the first session of the new term of the People's Council, if there is a vacancy among the representatives, the Election Council at the same level as the People's Council shall select the person with the highest number of valid votes but not elected in the electoral unit where the representative is vacant to fill the vacancy.

Chapter VIII

SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES

TO THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL AT ALL LEVELS

Article 57

During the term, in case of vacancies among representatives to the People's Council, supplementary elections may be held as provided by law.

The supplementary election of representatives to the People's Council shall be conducted according to the election procedures stipulated in this Law.

The date of the supplementary election must be announced no later than thirty days before the election day.

Article 58

Not later than twenty days before the date of the supplementary election for representatives to the People's Council at any level, the People's Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at that level shall be responsible for establishing a Supplementary Election Board consisting of three to five persons to oversee the supplementary election in the locality, and not later than fifteen days before the date of the election, establish an Election Board consisting of three to five persons in each supplementary electoral unit, including representatives from social organizations.

The supplementary election committee elects a Chairperson and Secretary.

The supplementary election board elects a Board Chairman and Secretary.

Article 59

Not later than ten days before the date of the supplementary election, the People's Committee of communes, wards, towns and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee shall be responsible for establishing a Supplementary Voting Team consisting of five to seven persons in each polling area, including representatives from social organizations at the grassroots level.

The Supplementary Voting Team elects a Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader, and Secretary.

Article 60

The duties and powers of the Supplementary Election Board, Supplementary Election Board, and Supplementary Voting Team shall be governed by the provisions applicable to the Election Board, Election Board, and Voting Team as stipulated in this Law.

Article 61

The list of voters shall be established and published by the People's Committee of communes, wards, towns not later than fifteen days before the date of the supplementary election.

Article 62

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the local level must organize a Consultative Conference to establish a list of candidates not later than ten days before the date of the supplementary election. The Supplementary Election Board must publish that list not later than seven days before the date of the supplementary election.

CHAPTER IX

THE DISMISSAL OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE PEOPLE'S COUNCILS AT ALL LEVELS

1. The subjects eligible for the award of the title "People's Doctor" and "Outstanding Doctor" include doctors, pharmacists, medical technicians, traditional medicine practitioners engaged in medical treatment, pharmaceutical production, medical research, disease prevention, epidemic control, and health management officials.

Depending on the degree of violation, representatives to the People's Council may be dismissed by the People's Council or put forward for dismissal by the voters who elected them, upon the proposal of the Standing Committee of the People's Council or of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level.

Article 64

The dismissal of a representative to the People's Council or the putting forward of a representative to the People's Council for dismissal must be approved by at least two-thirds of the total number of representatives to the People's Council.

When the People's Council dismisses a representative, it must widely inform the public.

Article 65

The People's Committee of the higher level directly determines the date for voters to cast ballots for dismissal. If dismissing a representative to the People's Council of a province, centrally-administered city, or equivalent level, the Council of Ministers determines the date for casting ballots for dismissal.

The date for voters to cast ballots for dismissal must be announced not later than thirty days before the voting date. The procedures for organizing the ballot for dismissal are prescribed by the Council of Ministers.

Article 66

More than half of the total number of voters in the electoral unit must cast ballots for dismissal for the dismissal of a representative to the People's Council to be valid.

 

Chapter X

THE HANDLING OF VIOLATIONS OF THE ELECTION LAW

Article 67

Any person committing any of the following acts shall be subject to disciplinary action, administrative handling, or criminal prosecution depending on the severity of the act:

a) Deceiving, bribing, or using other means to obstruct citizens' exercise of their right to vote;

b) Being responsible for organizing or supervising elections or dismissals and forging documents, tampering with ballots, or using other means to distort the election results or the dismissal of representatives to the People's Council.

 

CHAPTER XI

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 68

This Law replaces the Law on Elections of Representatives to the People's Council dated December 26, 1983.

All previous regulations contrary to this Law are hereby abolished.

Article 69

The Council of Ministers shall provide detailed regulations to implement this Law.

This Law was adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the eighth session, fifth meeting, on June 30, 1989.