Over 10,000 in Manaung Twsp among elderly cohort getting a jump on voting

By Aung Kaung Zaw 29 Oct 2020

Aung Kaung Zaw | DMG
29 October 2020, Manaung  

There are more than 10,000 eligible voters over the age of 60 in Manaung Township, Arakan State, and they began casting advance votes starting on October 29, as part of a larger cohort of elderly voters who will go to the polls head of official Election Day, November 8.  

Out of a total 55,635 eligible voters in Manaung Township, 13,203 are considered elderly aka over the age of 60, said U San Lwin, a member of the township election subcommission. Six military personnel registered in the township are also eligible to vote in advance. 

“There are a total of 55,635 eligible voters in Manaung Township. [A total of] 13,203 are senior citizens above 60 years old and six are military personnel. We don’t know the exact number of Myanmar citizens abroad and government employees,” he said.  

“We are coordinating with the township-level COVID-19 Control and Emergency Response Committee to help the people who are currently placed under observation at quarantine centres cast their vote in accordance with the law,” he added.  

Pre-polling services will be conducted on a door-to-door basis in collaboration with relevant ward and village subcommission members, health workers and polling station officials to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection to the elderly, the Union Election Commission said in a statement. 

Candidates from the Arakan National Party (ANP), the Arakan Front Party (AFP), the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD) are contesting Manaung Township seats in the upcoming election. 

Advance voting will be held from October 29 to November 7 to ensure that the elderly, exiles, those hospitalised and incarcerated, and individuals with certain travel- or distance-related circumstances are not disenfranchised, according to a UEC statement.