Elections in Myanmar

Myanmar is a unitary republic, with elected representatives at the national state or region levels. On the national level, the president who is the head of state and legislature, is elected indirectly through an Electoral College. According to the 2008 constitution, the term durations of the President, and Cabinet are five years.[1] All elections are regulated by the Union Election Commission.[2]

Myanmar is divided into 330 constituencies, and elections are only held in constituencies where there is more than one candidate. Otherwise, a representative is selected from each constituency with additional 110 seats appointed by the military,[3][2] These 440 representatives comprise the Pyithu Hluttaw. The Election Commission, a body dominated by the military[4] may decide not to hold elections in certain constituencies where they deem the situation unsafe. The goal of the election is to appoint Members of the Assembly in both the upper house (the House of Nationalities) and the lower house (the House of Representatives) of the Assembly of the Union, and State and Region Hluttaws. Ethnic Affairs Ministers were also elected by their designated electorates on the same day, although only select ethnic minorities in particular states and regions are entitled to vote for them.

The country has had 17 general elections since 1922. Following the 2020 elections, in which the National League for Democracy increased its majority, the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's military, claimed the results were invalid.[5] The Tatmadaw deposed democratically elected leaders the day before newly-elected politicians could be sworn in. Democratic elections were forbidden until the ongoing state of emergency ended which was first projected to be on 1 February 2022, later it was extended to 1 February 2023. and as of February 2023, extended by another 6 months.[6][7]

  1. ^ Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008) (English). Sections 61, 119, 151, 168, 235.
  2. ^ a b "How do elections work in Myanmar?". merin.
  3. ^ "MYANMAR Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives)".
  4. ^ "Myanmar: Mechanics of the Elections". Carnegie.
  5. ^ "Myanmar election: No evidence fraud in 2020 vote, observers say". BBC News. 17 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Myanmar junta extends state of emergency, delaying promised elections". The Guardian. 2 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Myanmar military rulers extend state of emergency by six months". Al Jazeera. 1 February 2023.

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