Overview
- The first of three voting phases took place on December 28, with further rounds on January 11 and January 25 and results not expected before late January.
- Balloting is largely confined to junta-held districts, with estimates that rebels control more than half the country and voting reportedly possible in only 274 of 330 townships.
- Aung San Suu Kyi remains in detention and the NLD is excluded, while the military-aligned USDP is widely expected to prevail under new restrictive rules.
- Rights groups and residents report pressure to vote, arrests for criticism under a new election law and electronic ballot processing that critics say enables manipulation.
- Local media reported explosions near polling sites in several cities, though no large-scale violence was initially reported.