China will reelect its county and township people's congresses
between July 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007 in accordance with the
stipulations of the Constitution and Election Law.
More than?2 million deputies to the county and township
people's congresses will be reelected in the coming 18 months.
Around 900 million voters will be involved in the reelection of
county people's congresses and more than 600 million voters in the
township reelections, according to a source from the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.
An official with the NPC Standing Committee said the
simultaneous reelections of the county and township people's
congresses are a?major event in the country's political life
and an important practice in developing socialist democracy.
"Smooth reelections are of great importance in consolidating the
foundation of state power, building a socialist and harmonious
society and strengthening the ruling capacity of the Communist
Party of China (CPC)," he acknowledged.
He said three guiding principles should be observed in the
course of the reelections. Firstly, an adherence to the CPC
leadership and secondly the promotion of democracy. The voters'
right to elect deputies should be fully respected and safeguarded.
And thirdly, strict observance of the relevant election laws is
crucial.
The right of migrants to vote will be given close attention
during the reelections as they account for one-tenth of the
country's population.
Migrants can vote by way of their residence registration
location or entrust, with written confirmation, another voter in
their residence registration location to vote on their behalf.
Each voter can accept voting entrustment from no more than three
migrants and must respect their choices, according to a document
issued by the CPC Central Committee.
Wrongdoing in reelections, such as corruption, election sabotage
or intervention by organized groups will be strictly dealt with
when discovered.?
The diversity of deputies will be further optimized as ordinary
workers, farmers, intellectuals and women are being encouraged to
seek election.?
To better prepare for the reelections the General Office of the
NPC Standing Committee, the Organization Department and the
Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee launched training
classes in Beijing, which were held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
At the classes Wang Zhaoguo, vice chairman of the NPC Standing
Committee, He Guoqiang, head of the Organization
Department of the CPC Central Committee and Sheng Huaren, vice chairman and
secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee all made important
speeches.
(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2006)