Polling stations opened across Myanmar today as the country holds its first general election in five years. The military junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has framed the election as a step towards restoring democracy, despite ongoing civil conflict throughout much of the nation.
The initial phase of the three-stage election began at 6:00 AM local time, encompassing constituencies in major cities including Yangon, Mandalay, and the capital, Naypyidaw. Security was visibly heightened, with armed soldiers deployed outside polling stations and military vehicles patrolling the streets of Yangon.
Election officials were observed preparing equipment and installing electronic voting machines, marking their debut in Myanmar’s electoral process. However, voting has been excluded in regions controlled by rebel groups within the Southeast Asian nation, home to approximately 50 million people.
Analysts anticipate that the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will secure the majority of seats, effectively serving as a facade for continued military rule.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the former leader of Myanmar, is not participating in the election. The 80-year-old is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely considered to be politically motivated. Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military regulations.
Numerous other parties have also declined to register or participate in the election, citing unfair conditions. Opposition groups have called for a boycott of the vote.
Activists, Western diplomats, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have condemned the staged elections, highlighting regulations favoring military-aligned candidates and the suppression of dissent. Myanmar has been under military rule for much of its history since independence, with a brief period of reform and optimism between 2011 and 2021.
