First instance body dealing with electoral disputes

LAW ON THE ELECTION OF DEPUTIES TO THE PEOPLE'SCOUNCILS (No. 12/2003/QH11, November 26, 2003)

Article 43.

1. As from the date of publicizing the lists ofPeople's Council candidates, citizens may lodge their complaints or denunciationsagainst candidates; or lodge complaints or file petitions about mistakes in thelisting of candidates to the Election Councils of such levels. The ElectionCouncils must inscribe such complaints, denunciations or petitions into booksand settle them according to their respective competence.

Incases where complainants, denouncers or petitioners disagree with the ElectionBoards' settlement results, they may lodge their complaints or file theirpetitions to the Election Councils. The Election Councils' decisions shall be the final ones.

2. Within ten days before the election day, theElection Councils or the Election Boards shall cease the consideration andsettlement of complaints, denunciations or petitions against candidates as wellas the listing of candidates. In cases where such complaints or denunciationsare clear with enough grounds to conclude that the candidates are unqualifiedto be People's Council deputies, the Election Councils of all levels shalldecide to delete such candidates' names from the lists of candidates before theelection day and notify voters thereof.

3. Anonymous written complaints or denunciationsshall not be considered or settled.

4. The Election Councils shall transfer alldossiers on complaints and denunciations which are left unsettled as well as oncomplaints and denunciations which have already been settled but the settlementthereof are disagreed with by the involved parties to the standing bodies ofthe newly elected People's Councils of the same levels for settlement accordingto their respective competence.