Overview
- The opening round on December 28 covered 102 of 330 municipalities, with further voting set for January 11 and January 25 and final results expected late January under the junta’s timeline.
- Turnout was noticeably below past elections, with boycott calls in conflict zones and overseas participation reduced to fewer than 6,000 out of more than 4.3 million eligible citizens.
- At least 56 municipalities were left out because the military lacks control there, and polling unfolded under heavy security with reports of pressure on residents to vote.
- The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party is positioned to gain, while junta chief Min Aung Hlaing cast a public ballot and said parliament will decide the presidency.
- UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews urged rejection of the vote as a farce, Western sanctions remain in place, and regional neighbors may continue pragmatic engagement on stability grounds.