Myanmar began a second round of voting on Sunday in its first general election since the military seized power five years ago, expanding polling to additional townships despite ongoing armed conflict and widespread criticism of the process. Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. local time in 100 townships across several regions and states, including parts of Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Bago and Tanintharyi, as well as Mon, Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Kayin. Many of the areas have seen recent fighting or remain under heightened security, highlighting the fragile conditions surrounding the vote. The election is being conducted in three phases because of the conflict. The first round took place on Dec. 28 in 102 of the country's 330 townships, while a final round is scheduled for Jan. 25. Authorities say voting will not be held in 65 townships due to insecurity. Myanmar has a bicameral parliament with 664 seats. Under the constitution, the military is guaranteed 25 percent of seats in each chamber, while the remaining seats are contested. The party or coalition with a parliamentary majority can select the president and form a government. Voting on Sunday took place in major cities including Yangon and Mandalay, with polling stations set up in schools, government buildings and religious sites. The military government said more than 24 million people were eligible to vote nationwide, around 35 percent fewer than in 2020. It described the first phase as a success, claiming more than 6 million ballots were cast, representing about 52 percent of eligible voters in areas where voting was held. Myo Aung, chief minister of Mandalay region, said turnout on Sunday appeared higher than in the first phase, adding that shortcomings seen in December had been addressed. More than 4,800 candidates from 57 political parties are contesting national and regional seats, though only a handful of parties are competing nationwide. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party emerged dominant in the first phase, winning nearly 90 percent of contested seats in the lower house. Former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party are not participating. Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely seen by critics as politically motivated, while her party was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military rules. International observers and opposition groups have dismissed the election as illegitimate. United Nations special rapporteur Tom Andrews urged the global community to reject what he called a "sham election," citing political repression, the jailing of thousands of opponents and the dissolution of major opposition parties. Rights groups say more than 22,000 people remain detained for political reasons since the 2021 coup, and thousands of civilians have been killed amid the ongoing civil war triggered by the military takeover. While no major disruptions were reported during Sunday's voting, opposition groups and armed resistance movements have vowed to undermine the electoral process. During the first phase, the military said attacks occurred in 11 townships where polling was held. — Agencies
