• Burmese
Saturday, May 24, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Myanmar Authorities Say Election Boycott Campaign May Face Legal Action

Htun Htun by Htun Htun
August 12, 2020
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
A “No Vote” page on social media. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

A “No Vote” page on social media. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

9.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

YANGON—Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) has said that any attempt to call for a boycott of the country’s November election violates election law, according to commission member U Myint Naing.

Some Myanmar voters have recently called on their fellow citizens not to vote in the general election, which is scheduled for Nov. 8, complaining that the National League for Democracy (NLD) government has been unable to fulfill the expectations of voters who supported the party in the 2015 general election.

In recent weeks, the calls have gradually grown into a “No Vote” campaign, prompting a debate on social media over the legality of urging people not to cast votes in the election.

RelatedPosts

Myanmar Election Body Dissolves Pro-Democracy Party in Kokang Region

Myanmar Election Body Dissolves Pro-Democracy Party in Kokang Region

November 21, 2023
2.5k
Thai PM Frontrunner Faces Election Probe

Thai PM Frontrunner Faces Election Probe

June 13, 2023
3.1k
How Myanmar Junta’s Plan to Deceive World With Sham Election Failed

How Myanmar Junta’s Plan to Deceive World With Sham Election Failed

April 12, 2023
6.7k

According to Article 2 (n) of the Election Law, the right to vote is defined as the right of a person to vote or to refrain from voting in the election. But according to the UEC, encouraging others not to vote in the election violates Articles 57, 58 (b) and (d), 60 and 61 (b) and (c) of the Election Law.

“To vote or not to vote is the right of an individual, but encouraging others not to vote violates those articles,” said U Myint Naing.

Article 57 criminalizes the use of violence, threats, undue influence, cheating and taking or giving of bribes to prevent a person from exercising the right to vote or run in an election. Article 58 (b) criminalizes threatening a candidate or a voter to prevent them from freely exercising their voting rights.

Article 60 criminalizes disturbing any eligible voter so as to prevent them from casting a vote on election day. Article 61 (b) bars soliciting a voter to vote or exhorting and inducing them not to vote for a Parliament candidate. Article 61 (c) bars exhorting and inducing someone to vote or not vote in the election.

All the articles carry a possible sentence of one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 kyats (US$72.90).

U Myint Naing said that complaints regarding these electoral offences can be filed with the police.

Article 65 (b) of the Election Law says voters, candidates, election agents and members of election sub-commissions and polling stations can file complaints with credible evidence about electoral offenses before or during the election and within 15 days after election day.

When asked if election authorities will take action against the “No Vote” campaign, U Myint Naing said, “We will act in line with the law. There are legal provisions. That’s all I want to say.”

According to the UEC, some 37 million people are eligible to cast votes in the November election.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar’s Ruling Party to Contest All Seats in Conflict-Torn Rakhine State in November Election

Myanmar Human Rights Body: Killings at Mandalay Youth Center Tied to Rule Breaches, Staff Shortage

Rakhine Man Dies in Myanmar Military Custody, Critics Suspect Execution

Your Thoughts …
Tags: 2020 Electionelection lawU Myint NaingUnion Election Commissionvotingvoting rights
Htun Htun

Htun Htun

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Election Body Dissolves Pro-Democracy Party in Kokang Region
Politics

Myanmar Election Body Dissolves Pro-Democracy Party in Kokang Region

by The Irrawaddy
November 21, 2023
2.5k

Election commission dissolves Shan State Kokang Democratic Party—the main rival of the regime-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party—for violating junta’s...

Read moreDetails
33 Myanmar Political Parties
Politics

33 Myanmar Political Parties, Mostly With Military Links, Register With Junta

by The Irrawaddy
March 22, 2023
5.6k

Under the junta’s new law, parties that fail to register will be dissolved and their assets seized.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta’s Planned Election to be Contested by 63 Parties
Politics

Myanmar Junta’s Planned Election to be Contested by 63 Parties

by The Irrawaddy
April 7, 2023
6.2k

Most of the political parties set to contest the poll are allied to the junta. The following is a breakdown...

Read moreDetails
Former Myanmar Dictator Than Shwe and Retired Generals Resurface
Burma

Former Myanmar Dictator Than Shwe and Retired Generals Resurface

by The Irrawaddy
March 15, 2022
8.6k

There has been little or no news of Than Shwe and his cohorts from the former junta since last year’s...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta’s New Voting Machines are Also Vote-Rigging Machines: Observers
Burma

Myanmar Junta’s New Voting Machines are Also Vote-Rigging Machines: Observers

by The Irrawaddy
February 14, 2023
5.1k

The military has a long history of fixing the outcome of national polls; the MEVM will make that task much...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Regime Still Parachuting Army Officers Into Senior Govt Roles
Burma

Myanmar Regime Still Parachuting Army Officers Into Senior Govt Roles

by The Irrawaddy
December 15, 2022
4.3k

Military officers have taken over key positions in the civil service since the coup.

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
A 70th Karen Martyrs' Day commemoration is held in central Yangon on Wednesday. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Myanmar Police Detain Three for Holding 70th Karen Martyrs’ Day Event in Yangon

Union Solidarity and Development Party chair U Than Htay at a party conference. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Ex-Generals Still in as Myanmar's Former Ruling Party Reveals Candidates for Upcoming Poll

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

China’s Two-Faced Diplomacy in Myanmar

China’s Two-Faced Diplomacy in Myanmar

5 days ago
2.4k
‘Indian Troops Killed Myanmar Resistance Fighters to Send a Message’

‘Indian Troops Killed Myanmar Resistance Fighters to Send a Message’

2 days ago
2.3k

Most Read

  • Dead or Alive: Min Aung Hlaing’s Final Gamble

    Dead or Alive: Min Aung Hlaing’s Final Gamble

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Adidas Shoe Factory Agrees to Striking Workers’ Demands

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • AA’s Political Wing Imposes Rakhine Travel Ban

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Indian Troops Killed Myanmar Resistance Fighters to Send a Message’

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Has the Revolutionary Spirit Gone? Shan Armed Forces in Crisis as Public Doubts Grow

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.