Voters in Myanmar participated in the initial phase of the country’s first general election in five years, overseen by the military government amid an ongoing civil war. Critics argue that the election is a ploy to legitimize military rule following the ousting of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, despite her party’s landslide victory in the 2020 election.
Citizens in Yangon, Naypyitaw, and other areas cast their votes at various locations such as high schools, government buildings, and religious sites. Concerns have been raised about the validity of the election results due to the exclusion of major parties, restrictions on freedom of speech, and an environment of suppression.
Opponents claim that the anticipated victory of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party will only serve to maintain military control under the guise of civilian leadership. The election could potentially be used as a justification by neighboring countries like China, India, and Thailand to continue supporting Myanmar, citing stability as a reason.
Security measures were heightened in Yangon, with armed guards stationed at polling stations and military vehicles patrolling the streets. The use of electronic voting machines for the first time in Myanmar was also observed. Despite threats from opposition groups to disrupt the election process, no significant disruptions occurred.
Aung San Suu Kyi, currently serving a prison sentence, is not partaking in the election, as her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 for refusing to comply with new military regulations. Other parties also opted out due to perceived unfair conditions, leading to calls for a voter boycott from opposition factions.
Analysts have highlighted the lack of genuine choice in the election, noting that a significant portion of voters in 2020 supported parties that no longer exist. Under the military’s oppressive regime, organizing opposition has been challenging, with thousands detained for political reasons and thousands of civilians killed by security forces since 2021.
The civil unrest in Myanmar, triggered by the military’s violent suppression of protests, has resulted in over 3.6 million people being displaced. A new Election Protection Law has been enacted, imposing severe penalties and restrictions on public criticism of the electoral process.
Both the military and its adversaries anticipate that Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who spearheaded the 2021 coup, will retain power. The election is being conducted in three phases, with the first round held in 102 townships out of 330. Subsequent rounds are scheduled for January 11 and 25, with final results expected later in January.
Over 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are vying for seats in national and regional legislatures, though only six have the potential to wield significant influence in Parliament.
