By-elections primarily slated for 34 constituencies
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The by-elections are likely to be held in 34 constituencies, said the director of the Union Election Commission (UEC).
UEC director Thaung Hlaing said the by-elections were planned in all the 34 constituencies. Yet, the process may be suspended in some places which pose security concerns or suffers from natural disasters.
Some constituencies are in Kachin State. The previous by-elections could not be held in the areas due to conflicts. Kachin had to send its list of candidates to the commission then.
“We will hold them at all constituencies if we can. If that is not possible, we can suspend them. But that would be known only then,,” Thaung Hlaing said.
“When we make our announcement, political parties concerned will know it first and start to woo voters. The elections would not be free and fair if one party decides to go to an unstable region when others don’t want to.”
Commission chairman Tin Aye had told political parties and parliament that by-elections are likely to take place in the end of November or early December, he said.
The date of the voting would be announced three months before, he said, so that meant it would be made this or next month.
Elections will be held at the time when political parties have not yet reached an accord over the controversial proportional representation.
On Friday, the National League for Democracy (NLD) organised a public talk in Yangon, aiming to raise public awareness on the change in the voting system.
