YANGON--- Despite the surging COVID-19 outbreak in Myanmar, the numbers of eligible voters can increase in the upcoming General Election-2020, when comparing against the previous election, Myint Naing, a member of Union Election Commission (UEC) said yesterday at Online discussion about General Election-2020 and Media Sector.
“We don’t think that the voters’ list amount may decrease. We think that the eligible voters can participate in the upcoming General Election-2020 so also the number of voters will increase than the previous. So, we would like to urge the voters to proudly vote on the General Election-2020,” said Myint Naing who is also UEC’s spokesperson.
There are over 50 million people in Myanmar. Among them, there are over 38 million of eligible voters for General Election-2020.
There were over 34 million of eligible voters for General Election- 2015 but only over 23 million voted in the 2015 election.
Myint Naing said that the entire people are facing the COVID-19 outbreak. At that time, they gained courage to overcome the coronavirus outbreak. The UEC wanted to mark a milestone on successfully holding the general election-2020 like other countries during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Although there have been hundreds of COVID-19 confirmed cases daily in Myanmar, the General Election-2020 will be held on November 8th, said Myint Naing on September 19th.
“There are over 38 million of eligible voters out of over 50 million in Myanmar. With the aim not to spread the coronavirus at the polling stations, plans were underway under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Sports. That’s why we don’t postpone the election date,” Myint Naing told the Eleven Media Group.
He continued that the people are worried about the coronavirus outbreak. However, prevention, controlling and treatment for COVID-19 also concerns them and that the general election was a very important activity for the entire people.
Recently, 24 political parties including the Union Solidarity and Development Party sent an open letter to the UEC on September 15th.
The letter urged the UEC to review the date for election due to the flash outbreak of coronavirus.
Likewise, Democratic Party for a New Society and People’s Pioneer Party sent a letter to the UEC in a recent day calling on the postponement of the general election.
Moreover, the People’s Party suggested that the UEC should discuss the current situations with the political parties and electoral civic organizations.
However, the ruling National League for Democracy and some ethnic parties had the desires to hold the general election-2020 according to the designated date.
The Second Parliament Period will expire on January 31st of 2021.
