Suu Kyi blames govt for voter list errors
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Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of National League for Democracy (NLD), urged all voters to check the accuracy of voter lists as the government does not take responsibility for errors.
At the election gathering in Tamanthi village, Homalin Township, Sagaing Region, on September 26, she said voting was the right of all citizens aged 18 and over.
"But our people are having to try hard to be included in voters lists. In countries where democracy is well established, no citizens need to worry about whether their name is on the voter lists. It is the government’s duty to prepare everything. We would like the kind of government that takes responsibility. But as it does not take responsibility, we citizens have to ensure we are included in the lists,” said Suu Kyi.
The Union Election Commission said it could guarantee just for 30-per-cent accuracy in the lists.
"It means that it cannot guarantee a fair and free election,” added Suu Kyi.
In Rakhine State, few people are checking and correcting voter lists, which contain the names of dead people and many other errors.
Tun Lwin, independent parliamentary candidate in Kyaukphyu Township, said: “When we went electioneering in rural Rakhine, people showed little interest to the voter lists. And I was very disappointing to be informed that the voter list in a village in my constituency only included four voters although there are more than 40 eligible voters there. The voter list for Gonchune village tract in my constituency included the names of dead people. My supporters are mostly not included. When I asked the district election commission about it, it replied that it occurs across the nation. Some who were not included in the lists made no attempt to correct the mistake. Only a few voters will come to the polling stations.”
He said all parties should encourage villagers to check the voter lists.
Tun Aung Thein, chairman of Arakan National Party from Buthidaung Township, said: “People don’t know how to vote. Few people went to see the voter lists. If only a few applied to correct the voter lists, only a few will vote.”
A retired teacher said he was undecided about who to vote for as the Rakhine parties had done little to publicise their policies.
There was a debate on Facebook concerning the voter list in South Okkalapa Township in Yangon Region. The constituency display 50,000 more names, compared to the list in 2010. There were 120,000 voters in South Okkalapa constituency in 2010 and 170,000 now.
Myint Than, chairman of the township election commission, responded by saying that people failed to change their household registration details when they moved away.
“We programmed household lists in the township in the computer. It is impossible that the computer technology can enlarge the number of voters,” Myint Than said.
The 2015 lists were based on a household list form while in 2010 only those really residing in the township were collected.
If someone had left the township, they would remain on the voter list until they changed the registration, Myint Than said.
Anyone who has moved away but is still registered in the township will have to return to cast a vote. Voters have until October 10 to change their registration details.
Parties extend help to ensure fairness.
The National Youth Congress has called for volunteers to observe the November 8 election with two volunteers in each of the polling stations in 320 townships.
“We wish to monitor for fairness. We plan to observe the whole country. We will observe in 320 townships. As we will assign two volunteers per polling station, about 2,300 people might be needed,” said director Moe Thway.
Training will start in late October with the support of the National Democratic Institute.
To join the congress, citizens must be aged between 18 and 35, literate, with no party affiliation or relatives standing as a candidate.
