Vietnam: What is a referendum? Who are the persons eligible for casting referendum votes?
- What is a referendum in Vietnam?
- Who are the persons eligible for casting referendum votes in Vietnam?
- What are the referendum principles in Vietnam?
- What are the issues for referendum in Vietnam?
- What are the cases when referendum is not held in Vietnam?
- What are the prohibited acts during a referendum in Vietnam?
What is a referendum in Vietnam?
Regarding the provisions on the concept of referendum, in Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Referendum 2015, it is specified as follows:
Referendum means an occasion held by the state for all the people in the country to vote on important issues according to this Law.
Accordingly, a referendum means an occasion held by the state for all the people in the country to vote on important issues according to this Law.
Vietnam: What is a referendum? Who are the persons eligible for casting referendum votes?
Who are the persons eligible for casting referendum votes in Vietnam?
In Article 5 of the Law on Referendum 2015 stipulates who is eligible for casting referendum votes in Vietnam, specifically:
Vietnamese citizens aged from 18 and over to the time of referendum unless otherwise as regulated in Clauses 1, 2, Article 25 hereof.
Thus, persons eligible for casting referendum votes are Vietnamese citizens aged from 18 and over to the time of referendum who are eligible for casting referendum votes, except in the following cases:
- Persons as prisoners under death penalty, persons who serve prison sentences without probation, or persons who are proclaimed by the Court as being incapable of civil acts shall not have their names recorded in the list of voters.
- Persons who had their names recorded in the list of voters but are sentenced to death, imprisonment without probation or proclaimed by the Court as being incapable of civil acts to the time of voting shall have their names removed from the list of voters.
What are the referendum principles in Vietnam?
According to Article 4 of the Law on Referendum 2015, the referendum principles are as follows:
- Guarantee people’s expression of their wills on making decisions on important issues of the country; strengthen national great solidarity and social consensus;
- Exercise principles of popularity, equality, and secret ballots in referendum;
- Referendum should be held according to sequence and procedures as prescribed in this Law.
What are the issues for referendum in Vietnam?
With regard to issues for referendum, Article 6 of the Law on Referendum 2015 provides as follows:
- Full text or some important issues of the Constitution;
- Issues of particular importance on sovereignty, national territory, national defense and security, foreign affairs having effects on national interests;
- Socio-economic issues of particular importance having great effect on the development of the country;
- Other important issues of the country;
What are the cases when referendum is not held in Vietnam?
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 9 of the Law on Referendum 2015, the cases when referendum is not held include:
- Result of previous referendum shall not be held again within 24 months since it was published.
- No referendum shall be held during a declaration of war or state of emergency across the country, or within six months since a state of war or state of emergency is annulled across the country.
What are the prohibited acts during a referendum in Vietnam?
Regarding the prohibited acts during the referendum, Article 13 of the Law on Referendum 2015 specifically provides as follows:
- Spread and communicate information that is deviated from issues and meanings of the referendum;
- Use deception, bribery, coercion to hinder voters from exercising their rights or to make them vote against their wishes;
- Forge documents, make frauds or use other tricks to falsify results of the referendum;
- Take advantage of referendum to invade national security, social order and safety, state interests, lawful rights and benefits of regulatory agencies, organizations and individuals;
- Violate regulations on ballots, vote counting and other provisions prescribed hereof;
Above is some of the information we provide to you about the referendum. Best regards!
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