With the strict stay-at-home order in the Covid-19 crisis, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in the Hpakant region of Kachin State are likely to lose the chance to vote in the 2020 general election. 

Basic voter lists were announced at ward and village-tract election sub-commission offices for two weeks from July 25 to August 7.  

Hpakant Township Election Sub-commission has announced that complaints can be sent about those who are not on the voter lists and those who should not have been on the lists. 

According to the first voter list, the township has over 163,000 eligible voters. 

Dr Thein Han, chairman of the township election sub-commission, said there might be many people in the township who need to apply with form (3) because they have not been on the basic voter lists when they were announced. 

“They are mostly jade scavengers and other related persons such as shopkeepers, company staff, departmental staff, servicemen, police and special task forces. If they want to cast votes, they need to apply together with form (3),” he said. 

For the 2020 election scheduled on November 8, voter lists will be announced two times. The second time will be announced for two weeks in October. 

The Union Election Commission has announced that those who are on the voter lists announced for the first time can apply for the lists to be announced for the second time. 

However, Dr Thein Han said people will have difficulty applying for the second-time voter lists due to the stay-at-home order for the Covid-19 prevention and control. 

Applicants need to submit copies of their national registration cards or household lists that need to be collected from their native places, he said. 

Khin Maung Chin, head of Hpakant Township National League for Democracy office, pointed out one difficulty saying that those who apply for being on the voter lists need to come to the township administrator. Due to the home stay order and the wide area of the township, they will find it difficult to come there, he added. 

Kachin State People Party chairman Baran Shaung said his party tried to help by going down to villages but it failed when the order was imposed.