Where are the young voters? - Final article: Bringing parliament closer to young people

Innovation in voter contact activities

Since the beginning of the 2021-2026 term, the National Assembly Delegation and the Hai Duong Provincial People's Council have coordinated to organize a number of thematic meetings with voters, many of which were attended by young voters. Most recently, there were thematic meetings at the Military School of Military Region 3 in Chi Linh City, and meetings with workers in the province at the central cultural house of Cam Giang District before the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly.

In these forums, young people had the opportunity to express many specific, practical and useful opinions. During the meeting with voters and workers in Cam Giang district, comrade Le Van Hieu, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation requested not to express opinions that had been prepared in advance and sent to the National Assembly delegates, but that these opinions would be received and responded to later. At this meeting, only the thoughts and aspirations of workers from practical life were heard.

At first, many workers were hesitant to speak up despite encouragement from many delegates and union officials. As soon as the first worker spoke up, many others boldly expressed their pent-up frustrations and legitimate suggestions. Some workers volunteered to speak up and make suggestions many times.

They talked a lot about cultural institutions for workers in industrial zones, housing support for workers, regulations on union fees, subsidies for union officials, etc. These are very valuable and practical documents for National Assembly delegates of Hai Duong province to study and contribute to policies at the National Assembly session or find solutions.

The innovative way of operating, going beyond the traditional contact “script” has shown immediate effectiveness and needs to be applied in more forums. The way voters view and trust their elected representatives is also completely different from before participating in this practical voter contact session.

However, to attend that voter meeting, many workers had to take time off work, and many unions had to rent cars for workers from other districts to come to Cam Giang district to attend this voter meeting.

Therefore, in addition to innovating the way of conducting meetings, more attention should be paid to organizing meetings with voters outside of working hours, on holidays, and at many locations near where young voters work, live, and study.

According to delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Duong province, an important solution to attract more young voters to meetings is that localities need to pay more attention to young voters in the group invited to attend meetings with voters.

“Each voter meeting is also an opportunity for young people to participate in political activities, and for elected representatives to listen to young people speak. Therefore, localities where voter meetings are held should not focus too much on structure but should pay more attention to younger voters,” said delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga.

According to delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, in the current era of information technology and social media development, it is possible to consider the option of meeting voters on multiple platforms, combining direct and online. In the future, the meetings of voters of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Duong province can be broadcast live on the fanpage of Hai Duong Newspaper to attract and receive the reflections and thoughts of more young people and National Assembly delegates can interact, listen and gather the opinions of young people more easily.

At the same time, it is necessary to further increase thematic meetings so that "old and young do not attend the same meeting". Then, young people will be more open when there are many people of the same age attending. Especially in rural areas, if a young person attends with relatives or neighbors, they will be hesitant to speak because they are worried that when they return from the voter meeting, they will be scrutinized by this person or that person.

Changing the mindset of young voters

While elected bodies and localities innovate their contact activities, young voters themselves also need to change their own perceptions.

According to delegate Dinh Thi Ngoc Dung, the youngest National Assembly delegate from Hai Duong province, young people need to equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge to participate more in voter meetings.

“It is necessary to propagate to change the thinking and awareness of young people about their role, rights and obligations towards the country. When young voters have enough knowledge and are facilitated to attend voter meetings, they will reflect many quality opinions to delegates,” delegate Dinh Thi Ngoc Dung suggested.

Having thought that voters, National Assembly deputies, People's Council deputies or National Assembly parliamentarians, policies and laws were things far away from a young student, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Anh in Hai Tan ward (Hai Duong city), a first-year student at Hanoi University, realized that she needed to change this perception.

“Through social networks and the more I experience life, I see more clearly the impacts of policies and legal regulations on young people. These are no longer distant things that only appear on TV or in books, but have entered the lives of students and young workers. Many of the contents that National Assembly delegates speak about are very close to young people and are of great interest. Therefore, I have a deeper awareness of the need to respond to those events, to contribute to policies and thereby serve and improve my own life,” Ms. Anh shared.

The efforts to change the awareness of young people and the creativity and innovation of local elected representatives will soon break the iceberg, helping to strengthen the bridge between the Party, the State and local voters and people.