People’s Public Security force on highest alert for general election

The election of the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term is a major political event, coming immediately after the success of the 14th National Party Congress.

It is a festival of the entire people, where voters exercise their democratic rights and choose outstanding representatives who reflect the will and aspirations of the people.

Highest requirements for ensuring election security and order

Accordingly, ensuring security and public order to successfully organise the election has been set as the highest requirement. This is also a central task for the entire People’s Public Security force during the first months of 2026.

Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan, Chief of the Office and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security, stated that based on directives from the Politburo, the National Election Council and the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Security had ordered the establishment of the Election Security and Order Subcommittee.

The subcommittee is directly led by a Deputy Minister and involves local Public Security units, with the objective of ensuring absolute security and safety, preventing even the smallest oversight, and contributing to the successful organisation of the election.

The Ministry of Public Security has also instructed Public Security units to develop and implement plans and measures to ensure security and order; proactively grasp the situation; and prevent, detect and address early any factors that could affect the security and safety of the election. This is to avoid passivity or unexpected developments under any circumstances.

Efforts are also being made to effectively safeguard internal political security, and to resolutely refute all false, distorted or inciting narratives that attempt to exploit the election to oppose the Party and the State or undermine the great national unity bloc, and to prevent hostile forces from taking advantage of the election process to cause disorder or violate the law.

A nationwide campaign to crack down on crime has been effectively implemented to ensure security and order for the election, while strengthening the management of residence, foreigners, weapons, explosives, traffic safety, and fire prevention and fighting.

At the same time, information technology is being strongly applied, with effective use of the National Population Database and the national digital identification app VNeID to support the election. To date, security and safety nationwide have been strengthened and maintained, with the highest readiness for the organisation of the election, Major General Toan affirmed.

Effective use of the National Population Database and the VNeID app

Besides promoting digital transformation in election preparations, the Ministry of Public Security has focused on utilising the National Population Database and the VNeID app in election-related work.

Sharing further on this matter, Major General Toan said that the Ministry of Public Security has continued to demonstrate a pioneering role in applying science and technology and digital transformation to serve the election of the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels.

One particularly noteworthy new feature in supporting this election is the stronger application of information technology and digital data, especially the effective use of the National Population Database and the VNeID app, contributing to greater convenience, transparency and proactive participation by citizens.

Under the assignment of the National Election Council, as early as October 2025 the Ministry of Public Security issued guidelines on the exploitation and use of the National Population Database and the VNeID app for compiling voter lists and printing voter cards for the election. At the same time, voter management software has been deployed based on official data from the National Population Database.

Through this system, the Public Security force has proactively coordinated with authorities and sectors at all levels to review, verify, supplement and adjust voter lists in a scientific and synchronised manner, thereby minimising errors such as duplication, missing information or the omission of eligible voters. Voter data is regularly updated on the population data platform, thereby enhancing management efficiency and ensuring transparency in election preparations.

Toan added that the ministry has also deployed functions on the VNeID app that enable citizens to access information about their polling stations and the list of candidates for the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels; request changes of polling location between permanent and temporary residence; and receive electronic certificates allowing voters to cast ballots in another location.

These software tools and features represent significant breakthroughs that facilitate the compilation of voter lists and enable voters nationwide to easily access election information without having to return to their place of residence.

Ensuring citizens’ rights at temporary detention centres, detention facilities and drug rehabilitation centres

Regarding the guarantee of citizens’ rights in accordance with the law at temporary detention centres, detention facilities and drug rehabilitation centres, Major General Toan stated that ensuring the rights of citizens as stipulated by the Constitution and the law is one of the responsibilities of the People’s Public Security force.

Under the Constitution and the law, Vietnamese citizens who meet the prescribed conditions have the right to vote. For those currently in temporary custody or detention, or undergoing administrative measures at compulsory drug rehabilitation centres, their voting rights remain guaranteed by law as long as they have not been deprived of such rights by a legally effective court judgment or decision.

On that basis, the Ministry of Public Security has directed local Public Security units to closely coordinate with local election committees and relevant agencies to review and compile voter lists for eligible individuals.

At the same time, efforts are made to disseminate and explain the rights and obligations related to elections so that these individuals clearly understand and comply with legal provisions.

Necessary conditions have also been proactively prepared to organise voting in accordance with regulations, such as arranging suitable polling areas, ensuring security and safety, and developing specific plans to organise voting for voters at detention facilities and drug rehabilitation centres.

The organisation process is carried out strictly in accordance with legal procedures, ensuring both the rights and obligations of citizens who are in temporary custody, detention or undergoing administrative measures at drug rehabilitation centres, while guaranteeing absolute security and safety at these facilities.

Allowing eligible individuals to exercise their voting rights at temporary detention centres, detention facilities and drug rehabilitation centres not only ensures strict compliance with legal regulations but also clearly demonstrates the humanitarian spirit and the State’s principle of respecting and guaranteeing human rights and citizens’ rights, thereby helping ensure that the election truly becomes a festival of the entire people, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security added.