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)