Voting in the first phase of Myanmar’s general election — the first since the military coup in February 2021 — concluded on Sunday, state media and observers reported, as the junta-organized polls continued amid civil war, political repression and widespread international criticism.

The first phase of balloting was held in 102 townships, with polling stations opening at 6 a.m. local time and closing at 4 p.m., Ankara-based Anadolu Agency and Chinese state media reported. The Union Election Commission said 21,517 polling stations were set up across participating areas.

Phased Voting, Partial Coverage

Myanmar’s election is being conducted in three stages, with the next rounds scheduled for January 11 and January 25, 2026, covering additional townships, according to state announcements.

However, the vote does not encompass the entire country due to ongoing conflict, with significant portions of territory held by ethnic armed groups and resistance forces excluded from balloting.

International observers from Russia, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nicaragua, India and the Myanmar-Japan Association attended the first phase, according to official reports.

Junta Claims Legitimacy; Critics Reject It

Burmese junta leader and acting President Min Aung Hlaing cast his vote in the capital Naypyidaw and again asserted that the elections are “free and fair,” as he did on previous occasions.

When asked about his own political future, he said he was a civil servant and could not comment on presidential ambitions until after parliament convenes and constitutional procedures play out.

However, international reaction remains sharply divided. The United Nations, Western governments, human rights organizations and many civil society groups have denounced the election as lacking credibility, free choice and inclusive participation, describing it as a bid by the military to manufacture legitimacy for its continued rule.

UN human rights rapporteur Tom Andrews urged the global community to reject the process outright, calling it a “theatre of the absurd” that cannot yield legitimate outcomes.

Opposition Suppressed, Key Parties Excluded

Major opposition figures and parties have been barred or effectively sidelined. The National League for Democracy (NLD) of Aung San Suu Kyi — which won the last free election in 2020 — was dissolved after refusing to re-register under junta-imposed electoral laws. Several other opposition parties have also been banned or boycotted the vote.

The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is widely expected to dominate the vote, leading critics to argue that the ballot offers “no real choice for voters.”

Low Turnout and Civil War Context

Early reports suggest low voter turnout, particularly in urban centers such as Yangon, where citizens expressed fear of political repression and uncertainties about the vote’s purpose.

Much of Myanmar remains engulfed in civil war, with ongoing clashes between the military and ethnic armed organizations across multiple states, and extensive humanitarian crises, including millions displaced.

Process and Timeline Ahead

The junta has not yet announced an official date for vote counting or final results, though analysts expect results to be declared in late January or February 2026, following the completion of all three voting phases.

Once elections conclude, Myanmar’s bicameral 664-seat parliament is required to convene within three months to choose speakers and elect a president — who in turn selects a prime minister to form the government.

As the process unfolds, both domestic and international observers are watching closely to see whether the polls will alter Myanmar’s political trajectory or simply cement the military’s grip under the guise of a civilian electoral system. (ILKHA)