Told to check voter lists online, Arakan residents in 2G zone are unable

By Min Tun 02 Oct 2020

Min Tun | DMG
2 October 2020, Sittwe

Some Arakan State residents have complained that they are unable to check revised voter lists online, as the Union Election Commission (UEC) has advised in light of coronavirus stay-at-home orders, with restrictions on internet access still hobbling much of the state.

A resident of Mrauk-U Township, Ko Zaw Tun, told DMG that he could not check the latest voter list online due to poor internet connectivity, and also could not go to look at the notice boards at the local administrator’s office because of the COVID-19 travel restrictions.

“We can’t check not only the voters list of the UEC, but also any other announcements online. We cannot even open [Facebook] Newsfeed,” he said. “The internet is useless in all townships from Mrauk-U to Paletwa having only 2G internet access. The voter lists are displayed on the notice board at the administrator’s office. However, again we cannot go due to the stay-at-home orders in our places.”

The government has limited seven townships in Arakan State and Chin State’s Paletwa Township to only a 2G mobile internet network. The connection has been described as unworkably slow, also hampering election candidates’ online campaign outreach. 

The UEC recently announced that the full voter list was updated on September 4, with the commission directing voters to check the roster, along with the latest coronavirus-related health directives, at its election web application.

But Rathedaung Township resident Ko Bekka said he had no internet access, and was not interested in checking the voter list even if he could.  

“We have no interest in the vote because our place is a military conflict area. Also the COVID-19 problem has been getting worse. So, the people don’t have in their heads the idea to [worry about] voting. It is also difficult to go and check the voter list and they are not going and checking it,” he said.

U Pe Than, the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Myebon Township, also highlighted a widespread sense of voter apathy ahead of the November 8 election. 

“They are not demanding that they want to vote. They are not interested in going to check the list. So we, the political parties, are sad that they are not going to cast votes in the election. We are concerned about it,” he said. “However, it is not appropriate to force the people to cast a ballot under the circumstances.”

He also lamented the limitations that the coronavirus stay-at-home orders had put on voter-candidate interactions, saying he did not have a chance to meet with constituents to urge them to vote for him and his party.

The Arakan State election subcommission says there are more than 1,647,000 eligible voters and up to 2,596 polling stations in the state for the general election.