Kantarawaddy Times
Although the military junta began holding Phase 1 of its election on December 28, the Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on December 27 that additional townships where elections cannot be held have been added to the list.
According to the announcement, elections will no longer be held in three townships in Chin State, two townships in Sagaing Division, and four townships in Rakhine State due to ongoing armed conflict.
Previously, it had been announced that elections could not be held at all in 56 townships across the country. With the addition of nine more townships, the total number of townships where elections cannot be held at all has risen to 65.
Media reports that in Phase 1 election, junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and General Zaw Min Tun cast their votes, and voters in various constituencies are also coming to vote.
Meanwhile, in areas controlled by revolutionary forces, people continue to move about their daily lives as usual and expressed their lack of trust in the election, saying that people should not vote.
“This election is neither free nor fair. Not everyone can participate. They even say they will hold elections in Hpruso. But all the people there are displaced by the war, so who is going to vote? Even if results are announced, they will only be fraudulent,” said Mo Sar Bu, a local resident of Hpruso Township in Karenni State.
The UEC has also stated that Phases 1 and 2 of the election cannot be held in 51 village tracts in Karenni State. For Phase 3 of the election, which is scheduled for January 25, the UEC added that elections cannot be held in 10 village tracts in Pekhon Township along the Shan–Karenni border.
In addition to the 65 townships where elections cannot be held at all, the number of townships where elections cannot be partially held due to affected village tracts has risen to 134. As a result, the 2025 election has set a historical record for the highest number of townships where elections could not be conducted.
