VietNamNet Bridge – A fish seller has accidentally picked up 85 ballots meant for a commune legislative election in the southern province of Ca Mau, leading to suspicion that the voting was rigged.

Photo: Tuoi Tre

The ballots are meant to select representatives of the People’s Council for a five-year tenure in Khanh Binh Tay commune.

The information was confirmed on Wednesday by Le Huynh Ky, deputy chairman of Ca Mau’s People’s Council.

“This is a complicated case. We’ll examine it to arrive at a conclusion,” Ky said.

According to Hoa, she found the ballots in a black nylon bag on the way to a fish market on May 22 –the same day the election took place at Electorate No. 9 at the headquarters of Kinh Hon hamlet’s People Committee.

Each stamped vote presents 6 candidates, of whom the electors have to select four.

Hoa has accused the electoral council of rigging the election as candidate Le Hoang Phuc was only chosen by one out of the 85 ballots but he did win the final election, Tien Phong reported.

On June 22, Hoa wrote an accusation letter and submitted it to Ca Mau People’s Council.

However, Hoa told Tuoi Tre that the civil servant who received her letter just promised to settle the issue but no action has been taken so far.

Thai Hong Tu – deputy secretary and chairman of Khanh Binh Tay’s People’s Council – said the votes might be standby ballots.

“We will re-examine all the votes and the mistake will be brought out soon. We promise to check the screening process and résumé of the accused [Phuc],” Tu said.

VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre