Naypyidaw, Jan 11 (V7N) — Voting in the second phase of Myanmar’s national elections began at 6:00 am local time on Sunday and will continue until 6:00 pm, marking the country’s first general election since the military coup of 2021.

As in the first phase, voter turnout remains low at polling stations. In this phase, voters are casting ballots in 100 parliamentary seats, including in parts of conflict-affected regions such as Shan and Kachin states. Authorities have imposed tight security measures amid ongoing instability.

Earlier, voting for the first phase was held on December 28 in 102 constituencies. The final phase of the election is scheduled for January 25, when voting will take place in 63 seats. Due to ongoing armed conflict, no voting will be held in 65 constituencies across the country.

Myanmar is holding general elections after five years of military rule, but the process has been widely criticized due to the exclusion of most political parties. Only six junta-backed parties are participating, while around 40 parties, including the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, have been banned.

According to preliminary results from the first phase, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has won 90 out of 102 seats in the lower house, giving it a commanding lead.

The election, conducted without the participation of the main opposition, has been described as a “sham” by the United Nations, as well as by Western governments and international human rights organizations, raising serious concerns about its legitimacy.

END/SMA/AJ