(VOVworld)- Hectic preparations for the elections of the 14^th National Assembly and People’s Councils are underway in citizen reception offices all over Vietnam. Efforts are being made to settle complaints and petitions and educate the citizens on their right to vote.

In the first 3 months of this year, the Central Citizen Reception Committee of the Government Inspectorate received more than 5,900 citizens, who came to report on 1,560 cases. In April alone, the committee received more than 2,600 citizens, 52% more than in the same period last year. Head of the committee Nguyen Hong Diep told VOV: “This is an opportunity for the administrations at central and local levels to review their performance in the previous tenure and set out future directions. We help local administrations and candidates to work out their plans of action, which should target the people’s needs”.

Voters study lists of candidates

Citizen reception personnel also came to talks with the people on pending issues. Even leaders of the Government Inspectorate had on-site meetings with citizens. In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Quang Ninh province, inspection teams have been established to check how citizens’ queries are addressed and how their petitions are settled, as Election Day nears. Nguyen Hong Diep said: “Whenever there is any complaint about election work and candidates, we follow the Law on Election to deal with complainants and forward the problems to the National Electoral Council in accordance with the law. We also communicate with people about their voting rights. If citizens are unable to vote, we will work with relevant agencies to provide mobile ballot boxes for them to exercise their rights”.

The Central Citizen Reception Committee has collaborated with the Fatherland Front and the Vietnam Bar Federation to organize a free legal consultation programs. Since early this year, hundreds of lawyers have participated in 4 legal support programs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, helping to resolve complaints and disseminate legal information to the public.