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| A voter in Dong Anh commune, Hanoi, scans a QR code to access information on election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-31 tenure __ Photo: VNA |
For the first time, the election administration is being assisted by national digital infrastructure, including the VNeID platform and the National Population Database. Such infrastructure is developed and operated by the Ministry of Public Security in line with Decision 06/QD-TTg dated January 6, 2022, in terms of orientations on science and technology development, data and innovation set forth in Resolution 57-NQ/TW.
According to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), "digital election" neither means fully online voting nor replaces the role of people with machines. Instead, it refers to the digitalisation of election administration. This approach ensures that every stage of the electoral process, from compiling voter lists and verifying voter identities to managing changes in polling stations and publishing candidate information, is managed on a unified, transparent and secure data platform.
Accordingly, every citizen possesses a unique digital identity; every change in residence or personal status is updated promptly; and every adjustment to the voter list leaves an electronic trace. Democracy, therefore, is not only guaranteed by legal procedures but also strengthened by standardised data that are not only accurate, sufficient, clean and updated, but also unified and shared.
A key feature of “digital election” is the integration of the Election Portal with the electronic identification and authentication system, allowing citizens to log in using their VNeID accounts.
In particular, linking the Election Portal with the National Population Database enables candidates to automatically retrieve relevant data to fill out declaration forms, thereby reducing errors and improving accuracy. Hundreds of thousands of data access requests have been processed, demonstrating the effectiveness of a controlled data-sharing mechanism.
Candidates’ information is synchronised and publicly displayed on VNeID, enabling voters to easily access such information. In the cyberspace where misinformation can spread easily, providing accurate and authenticated data through electronic identification is an important factor in building public trust.
As elections become increasingly digitalised, the requirement to ensure security and safety becomes even more critical. Security is no longer limited to protecting physical polling stations; it also extends to safeguarding information systems, data infrastructure and electronic authentication processes. This requires strong technical capabilities, close coordination among related agencies, and a secure data foundation.
With its core role, the MPS not only builds and operates data infrastructure but also proactively implements cybersecurity solutions, monitors cybersecurity risks, and prevents and handles acts that misuse technology to undermine the electoral process.- (VLLF)
