Advance voting for the 2020 general election started for eligible voters aged 60 and above in the regions and states of Myanmar including Yangon Region on October 29.
According to the reporters from The Daily Eleven covering election news, there are over 800,000 elderly voters, but the number of advance voters might be small due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Advance voting for elderly people living in the stay-home and densely populated townships will last until November 9.
“Over 40 people have so far come to our polling station. We have received nearly half votes because we have over 100 voters today. There are more than 400 voters in our ward,” said Than Zin Tun, member of Kominkochin Ward polling booth commission in Bahan Township, Yangon.
According to the notification issued by the Union Election Commission (UEC) on October 10, ward and village-tract election sub-commissions will be collecting ballet papers door to door from the voters aged 60 and above living in the state-at-home townships and densely populated townships (5,000 and above living in one square kilometer).
“We have made lists of voters aged 60 and above with the help of respective community authorities. We are collecting ballots according to those lists. In doing so, we have a combined team comprising administrative authorities and special police forces. For voting, it is according to the wishes of the voters,” an official from Thingangyun Township Election Sub-commission.
As Yangon Region with over 70 percent of Covid-19 cases of the whole country has 44 stay-home townships, advance ballots for the elderly voters will be collected door to door, said some District Election Sub-commission officials.
“It is a good plan for the elders. There will not be gatherings. It is more convenient for us to vote. On Election Day, our family members will not allow us to be out for voting. Now, we will not lose a vote thanks to such advance voting,” said a 63-year-old woman voter from Tharkayta Township.
The UEC has announced that 29 townships in Yangon Region and four townships in Mandalay Region are designated as stay-at-home and densely populated townships.
However, Yangon Region East District Election Sub-commission chairman Dr Kyaw Soe Win said Yangon has 44 stay-at-home townships, so advance ballots from the elderly people in those townships will be collected from door to door.
“In Ward (5) of our South Oakkalapa Township, there are around 200 people aged 60 and above. Today, we will be able to collect about 50 votes. We started collecting at 10 am. We will finish at 4 pm. It’s OK with this because we have already made preparations. We are collecting ballots from the unhealthy people and elderly people,” said an official from the ward election sub-commission.
Some elderly people went to the polls in Pazundaung Township as they didn’t know that advance ballots from elders are being collected door to door.
“My mother herself went to the polls in the previous elections. At that time, she was healthy. Last night we heard elderly people can cast advance votes, so we came here. But now we learn that they are collecting votes door to door. It’s better for us,” said the daughter of an 83-year-old woman.
The UEC announcement says except for those stay-home townships, elderly voters from other townships can go to their respective polling stations if they are able. For health reasons, they can contact the election sub-commissions and cast their ballots at home.
However, some ward and village election sub-commissions in the stay-at-home townships in Yangon Region are reportedly urging advance voters to come to their office or collecting votes at a mobile polling booth in a single place without going door to door.
Some people have expressed concern over advance voting as 43 percent of Covid-19 deaths are those aged between 61 and 75.
