Number of eligible voters to reach more than 37 million in 2020 in Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW, Dec 1, 2019, Myanmar Times. The number of eligible voters in next year’s election could reach more than 37 million, exceeding by three million the number in the previous election, a senior election official said, Myanmar Times reported.

U Myint Naing, a Union Election Commission (UEC) member, said the estimate did not include five townships in the Wa self-administered region in Shan State.

“Myanmar has more than 24 million men and more than 26 million women. The basic voter list has more than 17 million men and more than 19 million women,” he said. “That is an increase of more than three million,”

He added the UEC has submitted to the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) an amended election rule that would allow the removal of polling booths from military bases.

“If there is no objection within 90 days, the rule will be approved,” he said. “Our goal is for the election to be transparent. We have amended the rules to enable military polling stations to move outside the camps.”

In the 2015 general election, there were 891 military polling stations in military camps. If they are moved outside, U Myint Naing said, he did not know if the number of polling stations would increase or decrease.

He said the commission estimated the cost of next year’s general elections at K50 billion (US$33.12 million).

He said that although some people demanded an increase in the campaign spending limit, the amount will not be changed, as many political parties have limited financial resources.

“The spending limit is K10 million for Pyithu Hluttaw MPs, Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) MPs and regional and state hluttaw MPs. It is K1.5 billion for ethnic MPs, as their constituencies cover entire states or regions,” he said.

Although the poll body has a basic voter list, it has yet to set the date for next year’s elections. In 2010 and 2015, the general elections were held in November.

Tags: Myanmar