Vice President of the National Assembly and member of the National Election Committee, Prof. Dr Chaleurn Yiapaoher.

Over 4.7 million citizens to vote in national, provincial elections

A total of 4,764,384 citizens are eligible to vote for members of the 10th National Assembly and 5th Provincial People’s Councils at elections taking place across the country on February 22.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Vice President of the National Assembly and member of the National Election Committee, Prof. Dr Chaleurn Yiapaoher, said 23,378 voters live in other countries and have registered to cast their ballots in person at Lao embassies and consulates.
He noted that although several hundred thousand Lao citizens work in other countries, the number who have registered to vote is relatively small, as many live far from embassies and consulates and cannot easily get to polling stations.
He clarified the voting procedures, explaining that if there are seven candidates in a constituency and five representatives are to be elected, voters must cross out the two candidates they do not wish to select. Ballots will be considered invalid if voters cross out more or fewer names than required, or if no names are crossed out.
He also addressed a common misunderstanding, emphasising that crossing out a candidate’s name means that candidate is not selected, while the names left uncrossed are the chosen representatives.
In response to some people’s misunderstanding, and suggestions that elections are irrelevant in a one-party state, Prof. Dr Chaleurn explained that electoral systems vary according to each country’s political system. In multi-party systems, each party nominates their own candidates. In Laos, however, the single ruling party represents all ethnic groups nationwide, as mandated in the Constitution.
The elections on February 22 represent an important step in strengthening democracy and reaffirming the right of the Lao people to vote as the true owners of state power in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, he added.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update February 13, 2026)