LIVE BLOG: Millions in Myanmar vote in historic election
This is the country’s first general election since 2010, when the current government came into power in a vote that was criticised by Western governments as being neither free nor fair.
YANGON, Myanmar: More than 30 million voters head to the polls on Sunday (Nov 8) in what is expected to be the freest and fairest general election in the country’s history.
About 6,000 candidates from 93 political parties are running for 1,142 seats in the national, regional, and state parliaments of Myanmar. This will be the country’s first general election since 2010, when the current government came into power in a vote that was criticized by Western governments as being neither free nor fair.
The poll comes after an intense campaigning period over the last two months, which saw candidates from the two largest parties – the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the opposition National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi – compete for votes alongside a multitude of smaller parties.
Preparations for the election had been marred by setbacks such as incomplete or inaccurate voter lists, and complaints that many citizens at home and abroad were unable to register in time to vote.
Concerns were also raised by NGOs about the disenfranchisement of up to 80,000 Rohingya residents in Rakhine state. According to state media, five of the country’s 330 townships will also not hold elections due to security concerns.
While campaigning across Myanmar has occurred without violence, some political parties fear that there may be potential violence on or after polling day.
All eyes will be on the seats being contested in the Upper and Lower houses of the national parliament. About 25 per cent of the seats in the national parliament are reserved for military representatives appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, leaving 498 seats up for election. The 664-seat national parliament will elect the President.
Myanmar’s Election Commission is expected to announce the results six times a day from Nov 9, and the Commission Chair to hold daily news conferences from Nov 9- 15 in Nay Pyi Taw
