Chairman of the National Election Committee Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane speaks to reporters.

Lao voters eagerly await chance to vote on polling day

Lao citizens all of ethnicities will gather at polling stations on February 22 to exercise their democratic right to vote, making their voices heard in the interests of national development.
This was the message from the President of the National Assembly and Chairman of the National Election Committee, Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane, when informing reporters about the upcoming election of members of the 10th National Assembly (NA) and 5th Provincial People’s Councils.
Dr Xaysomphone called on all citizens aged 18 and over to vote, to ensure the election is a “grand national festival” and that suitable representatives are elected to these important decision-making bodies.
“Every vote is significant; voters should ensure their ballots are marked correctly to avoid spoiled ballots,” he said.
Election committees must ensure 100 percent transparency and timely completion of voting, while all citizens should remain vigilant to ensure security throughout the election, he added.
The current five-year terms of the 9th Legislature of the National Assembly and 4th Provincial People’s Councils come to an end this month, as mandated by the Constitution.
All levels of the Party, government, and local administrations are now actively preparing for the elections, which symbolise the execution of Party policy, specifically the resolutions adopted by the 12th National Party Congress last month.
By voting, citizens play a part in building a democratic state, ensuring it is truly “of the people, by the people, and for the people”.
This process allows citizens, including civil servants, soldiers, and police, to exercise their democratic right under Article 36 of the Constitution to vote and to run for office.
It is an opportunity for the multi-ethnic Lao people to choose representatives who will make decisions on issues of national importance in the National Assembly, with local issues addressed by People’s Provincial Councils.
The elections follow on from the 12th National Party Congress and the conclusion of the 9th five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan.
A total of 243 candidates are competing for 175 seats in the next legislature of the National Assembly, while 1,041 candidates are competing for 745 seats in Provincial People’s Councils. Of these, 35 percent are women, with candidates’ ages ranging from 36 to 69.
Candidates come from diverse sectors, including the Party, state organisations, the Lao Front for National Development, veterans’ federations, mass organisations, security forces, educational institutions, and state and private enterprises.
During the 9th Legislature of the National Assembly, 87 out of 96 planned laws were approved or amended, bringing the total number of laws currently in effect to 176.
A major highlight was the approval of an amended Constitution in 2025, which provides the foundation for strengthening state power and aligning local administration with modern development needs.
The legislative process aimed to incorporate the opinions and aspirations of the people through consultations, ensuring that laws are practical and serve the public interest.
The 9th Legislature of the National Assembly (elected on February 21, 2021) operated during a period of complex global challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite this, the NA held 12 sessions (ordinary and extraordinary) and passed 106 resolutions. In addition, it approved the 9th five-year NSEDP, annual budgets, and monetary plans as well as specific National Agendas to address the country’s economic and financial issues and the burgeoning drug problem.
Assembly members strengthened oversight of mining operations, pushed for infrastructure development, encouraged expanded agricultural production in order to reduce imports, and made progress in poverty alleviation efforts through the Party’s Three Builds directive.
Both the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils set up hotlines so that members of the public could air their grievances.
The 9th Legislature also actively engaged in parliamentary diplomacy, notably hosting the 45th AIPA General Assembly in 2024 and the 1st Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Parliamentary Summit in 2023.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update February 4, 2026)