Voters elect MPs to national, provincial parliaments

Lao people across the country on Sunday cast votes to elect their representatives to seats in the National Assembly (parliament) and Provincial People’s Councils (provincial parliaments).
President Bounnhang Vorachit, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the National Assembly Mrs Pany Yathotou and other Party and state leaders joined citizens in voting for members of the national parliament’s 9th legislature and provincial People’s Council second legislature (MPs).

The National Election Committee and local election committees have been campaigning to encourage all 4,280,000 eligible citizens to vote in the election, which takes place every five years. Voting on Sunday took place from 7am to 5pm.
Village authorities turned on community radios and loudspeakers early in the morning in a final effort to persuade everyone to exercise their right to vote.
Authorities in Nongbone village, where President Bounnhang cast his vote, said they had circulated documents and information about the election to voters several weeks before election day to make sure everyone was fully informed and encourage people to exercise their right to vote.
“For those who are unable to come to the polling station, such as people who are ill, we have mobile teams to reach them and give them the chance to vote,” Nongbone village Head Mrs Souvanh Khounnivong told reporters.
President Bounnhang and his wife Mrs Khammeung Vorachit went to vote at the polling station at Nongbone village temple at about 8:30 am – about one hour after it opened – to join their compatriots in exercising their right to vote.
More than 7,200 polling stations were set up across the country. Mobile voting units were provided so that people who could not get to polling stations, including those who were ill, were able to vote. Early voting was arranged where necessary, including for soldiers and police, as they were engaged in security duties on election day. In addition, 40 polling stations were set up in other countries so that Lao citizens and officials overseas could vote.
Some 224 candidates from all 18 constituencies are contesting 164 seats in the National Assembly and 788 candidates are competing for 492 seats on Provincial People’s Councils.
Prime Minister Thongloun and his wife Mrs Naly Sisoulith arrived at the polling station at the Thaphalanxay village office, Sisattanak district, at about 8am, joining villagers to elect representatives to the two parliaments.
National Assembly President Mrs Pany Yathotou joined Nongbuathongneua villagers to vote at the village’s Sixomxeun temple in Sikhottabong district.
People across the country appeared to be fully informed about the voting process and eager to participate.
As many as 85 percent of registered voters turned up at the polling station at a temple in Chiengchai village in Sing district, Luang Namtha province, to vote by 10:15 am, local media reported.

The election committee in Hongxaeng village, Chanthabouly district, Vientiane, said they also noticed that people were enthusiastic about voting, with many arriving at the polling station early in the morning.
Previous elections in the village saw everyone vote before noon, which enabled the committee to complete its work before the scheduled voting deadline, a committee member said.  
As in other parts of the country, people in Champassak province were equally keen to exercise their right to vote.
“Local election committees reported that a large number of people flocked to polling stations. The atmosphere in our province is joyful,” said a standing member of the province’s election committee, Mr Khamsy Piengvoravong.
He believed that polling stations with smaller numbers of voters would see the end of voting by noon or early afternoon. But in places where more than 1,000 people came to vote the process might end later.
Social media, notably Facebook – one of the most popular online networks - was flooded with posts about people’s experiences of the day and photos of voting scenes across the country. 
National Election Committee Spokesperson Dr Somphou Duangsavanh told Vientiane Times he expected the results of the election would be revealed before the end of this month.
He added that it would take several days to finalise the process before the committee could announce the names of NA and Provincial People’s Council members.
The election took place at a time when Laos has been electing new leaderships of Party and state organisations.
Last month, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party held its 11th National Congress when Prime Minister Thongloun was elected as Party Secretary General – the top post in the Party – replacing retiring Party leader Bounnhang Vorachit.
Once members of the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils are elected, the two chambers will hold inaugural sessions to elect national and provincial leaders including the state president and prime minister, and approve a new government cabinet.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update February 22, 2021)