With junta boss Min Aung Hlaing pushing hard for a general election to be held in December, the junta’s Immigration Ministry, Union Election Commission (UEC) and relevant ministries are ramping up efforts to finalize a national voter list.
On Tuesday, junta-appointed Minister for Immigration and Population Myint Kyaing chaired a coordination meeting in Naypyitaw on overseeing field data collection. The meeting brought together officials from the Ministry of Immigration, the UEC, the Naypyitaw Council, and other government agencies including the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
Myint Kyaing emphasized the need for complete demographic data on all citizens aged 18 and above to ensure accurate voter lists. He said discrepancies between the data from the national census conducted in October 2024 and figures from previous lists must be carefully compared to ensure the accuracy of final voter lists.
He added that authorities are working to ensure every eligible voter has an appropriate ID card to participate in the election. He called for coordinated efforts among the departments concerned to complete preparations within the timeframe.
On May 24, Myint Kyaing visited Magwe, a resistance stronghold in central Myanmar, where he directed local authorities to submit verified population records to the UEC.
Earlier this month, the UEC also demonstrated its electronic voting machines at a mock voting in Magwe town, attended by local officials, representatives from political parties, civil society organizations and residents, according to junta media outlets.
In recent weeks, Min Aung Hlaing has repeated his calls for an election to be successfully held as scheduled and the convening of the Union Parliament. Sources from Naypyitaw said that the regime is gauging the interest of military officers in running for office. The regime has also reportedly allocated funds for the UEC to prepare the poll.
During a tour of Shan State in the third week of May, Min Aung Hlaing urged soldiers in local battalions to choose candidates who would genuinely work for the benefit of the nation and the people—a statement widely viewed as an effort to garner support for the military’s political proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party.
The UEC last week stated that it plans to conduct elections in 260 out of the 330 townships across Myanmar.
On Tuesday, UN special envoy to Myanmar Julie Bishop told the UN General Assembly that the junta’s planned elections risk fueling greater resistance and instability unless there is an end to the violence and a poll can be held in an inclusive and transparent way.
“It is inconceivable how an election could be inclusive” with so many political leaders still being held by the regime, she said. There are more than 22,000 political prisoners including democratically elected leaders of the ousted government currently under detention in Myanmar.
Western governments, Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG), and ethnic armed resistance groups have long rejected the junta’s election plans, stating the process cannot be free or fair under military rule.
Current Asean chair Malaysia has called for the regime to focus on a ceasefire instead of an election. Min Aung Hlaing claimed that the international community including China and Russia fully supports his poll.
Meanwhile, the junta has lost control over large swathes of territory and its own military bases in Rakhine, Kachin, Karenni, Chin, northern Shan, and central Myanmar. Fierce battles continue in northern Shan, Rakhine, and Karen states, and Sagaing Region.
