The election of National Assembly deputies of the 16th term and People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2026 - 2031 term will take place on March 15th.
This time is a key stage, requiring continued careful review, not subjectivity, ensuring that each voter's vote is taken in favorable, safe and lawful conditions.
The National Election Council has also provided information on handling violations in elections.
Accordingly, Article 95 of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies clearly stipulates that anyone who uses tricks of deception, bribery or coercion to obstruct the election and candidacy of citizens; violates regulations on election campaigning; people responsible for election work who forge documents, cheat votes or use other tricks to falsify election results will be disciplined, administratively sanctioned or prosecuted for criminal liability depending on the nature and severity of the violation.
Based on the provisions of this Law, the 2015 Penal Code (which has been amended and supplemented by a number of articles according to Law No. 12/2017/QH14, Law No. 59/2024/QH15 and Law No. 86/2025/QH15) has specifically stipulated 2 crimes related to elections.
First, the crime of infringing upon the rights of citizens regarding elections, candidacy or voting when the State holds referendums (Article 160).
Accordingly, anyone who deceives, bribes, coerces or uses other tricks to obstruct citizens from exercising their right to vote, candidate rights or voting rights when the State holds a referendum shall be subject to a warning, non-custodial reform for up to 1 year or imprisonment from 3 months to 1 year.
Committing a crime in one of the cases such as being organized, or abusing positions and powers; committing a crime leading to postponement of elections, re-elections or postponement of referendums will be sentenced to imprisonment from 1 to 2 years.
The offender may also be prohibited from holding certain positions for 1 to 5 years.
Second, for the crime of falsifying election results, referendum results (Article 161). Anyone responsible for organizing and supervising elections, organizing referendums who forges documents, cheats in votes or uses other tricks to falsify election results, referendum results shall be subject to non-custodial reform for up to 2 years or imprisonment from 3 months to 2 years.
And committing crimes due to organization; or committing crimes leading to having to reorganize elections or referendums shall be sentenced to imprisonment from 1 to 3 years. The offender may also be prohibited from holding certain positions from 1 to 5 years.
Also according to the National Election Council, candidates for National Assembly deputies, People's Council deputies who have acts violating the law on elections (such as declaring untruthful, fraudulent, false information, violating regulations on election campaigning...) may be removed from the official list of candidates.
In case they have been elected, they are also not recognized as National Assembly deputies or People's Council deputies.
