Thandwe Twsp locals to vote again following errors in advance balloting

By Myo Myint Zaw 06 Nov 2020

Myo Myint Zaw | DMG
6 November 2020, Thandwe

Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) has ruled that voters in Kyaukgyi village-tract of Arakan State’s Thandwe Township ought to vote again due to errors in advance voting procedures for the constituency’s Upper House seat, according to the Thandwe District election subcommission.

Following the errors, the Thandwe Township election subcommission decided that the votes be cancelled and voters shall vote again. However, the National League for Democracy (NLD) candidate filed a complaint with the Union Election Commission (UEC) against the decision.

On Thursday, the UEC said it would stick to the decision of the township election subcommission. “According to its ruling, we are collecting advance votes again,” an officer of the Thandwe District election subcommission, U Moe Kyaw, told DMG.

After nearly 400 advance votes were cast in Constituency No. 11 representing Thandwe on October 29, it was found that ballot papers used there were in fact meant for voting in other townships, including Kyaukphyu and Manaung townships.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from the NLD’s candidate U Soe Win, aka U Soe Lay, who has filed a prior complaint with the UEC.

Voting irregularities were reported as older voters cast advance votes from October 29 to November 5, ahead of the November 8 election. The UEC says it has taken action against voting irregularities.