Official ceremonies were held at 7 am on May 22 at 91,438 pollingstations throughout the country to start the voting to elect deputies tothe 13 th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels forthe 2011-2016 term.

This is the first time theelections for deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils atall levels have taken place at the same time, during which over 63million voters will elect 500 NA deputies and 301,954 People’s Councilmembers.

The elections will serve the building,strengthening and perfecting a socialist law-governed state of thepeople, by the people and for the people.

Therefore, the selection and election of deputies who have both virtueand talent to represent people’s will, aspirations and their right tomastery are a central task of the Party, the entire population and thearmy in 2011.

The general elections will wrap up at 19 pm on the same day.

Of the 827 candidates to the 13 th National Assembly, there are 260female candidates (or 31.44 percent), 133 ethnic minority candidates(16.08 percent), 118 non-Party candidates (14.27 percent). The number ofunder-40 candidates is 183 or 22.13 percent and self-nominatedcandidates, 15 or 1.81 percent.

In term ofeducation, 304 candidates (36.76 percent) hold postgraduate degrees and492 candidates (59.49 percent) are university graduates.

Of the 5,965 candidates to People’s Councils at provincial level,2,052 are women, representing 34.4 percent; 1,146 are ethnic minority,19.21 percent; 1,211 are under 40 years old, 20.3 percent and 872 arenon-Party people, 14.62 percent.

There are 25 self-nominated candidates in 14 cities and provinces.

The electorate will choose 3,832 deputies for People’s Councils at provincial level. /.