Half of voters turn out in junta-organized election in three Arakan townships

By Admin 30 Dec 2025

DMG Newsroom

30 December 2025, Sittwe

About half of eligible voters in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung townships in Arakan State cast ballots in the junta-organized election, according to sources close to the Union Election Commission (UEC).

The military regime announced that there were 195,888 eligible voters across the three townships, with more than 100,368 people voting, representing a turnout of about 51 percent.

“In Sittwe and Kyaukphyu, voter turnout was below 50 percent. In Manaung, it was almost 100 percent. Taken together, turnout across the three townships is about half,” said a local Arakanese man close to the UEC.

In Sittwe Township, more than 92,430 people were eligible to vote, but only about 40,044 cast ballots, a turnout of 43 percent.

Kyaukphyu Township had around 47,848 eligible voters, with more than 10,324 people voting, representing a turnout of about 21 percent.

Manaung Township recorded the highest turnout, with more than 55,561 eligible voters and about 50,000 ballots cast, or around 90 percent.

“In Manaung, the turnout was nearly 100 percent. The entire island is under military control, and there were threats from ward and village administrators that people would face consequences if they did not vote, so many may have been afraid not to participate,” said a Manaung resident.

Manaung recorded the highest voter turnout at about 90 percent, followed by Sittwe at 43 percent, while Kyaukphyu had the lowest turnout at 21 percent, meaning only about one in five eligible voters cast ballots there.

“Since most residents in Kyaukphyu and Sittwe are military regime employees, it is assumed that the majority of voters came from these groups. Holding an election mainly with junta staff is not a genuine electoral process,” said an Arakanese election observer.

The military regime was only able to hold elections in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung, which remain under its control.

Voting was conducted township-wide only in Manaung. In Sittwe and Kyaukphyu, polling was limited to urban areas and some surrounding villages.

The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won most constituencies in Arakan State in the junta-organized election.

The USDP secured all three parliamentary seats in both Sittwe and Kyaukphyu.

In Manaung, the Arakan Front Party (AFP), led by Dr Aye Maung, won the state and Amyotha Hluttaw seats, while the Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP), led by U Ba Shein, won the Pyithu Hluttaw seat.