Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Do Ba Ty inspects election work in Khanh Hoa province. Photo: VOV

Mr. Ty had a working session with leaders and the election committee of the south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on Friday.

In remote offshore areas, like the DK1 platform on the southern continental shelf in the Truong Sa district of Khanh Hoa province, the elections serve the additional purpose of confirming Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea.

Soldiers stationed on the DK1 platform are on duty to defend national sovereignty and safeguard the elections. The naval force has helped local authorities prepare for the elections.

Rear Admiral Hoang Hong Ha, deputy commander of the Vietnam Navy, said that because islands in the Truong Sa archipelago are far from each other, early elections must be carefully planned to ensure civil rights and safety, and minimize costs.

“Islands and DK platforms are scattered over an area of about 200,000 sq.km. It takes a lot of time and resources to organize consultative meetings, set up polling stations, and collect votes. The Vietnam Navy has organized 4 sub-committees and 6 electoral teams to prepare for the elections,” Ha said.

On election day, the naval force will have ships transport ballot boxes to islands and the DK1 platform so voters can cast their ballots. Political Commissar Dinh Van Cuong, Chairman of Truong Sa town’s People’s Council, said: “We have prepared voter cards for local residents and some extra voter cards for fishermen who cannot get back to the mainland by election day. So they can exercise their right to vote.”