Three-stage polling plan unfolds as security threats and political pressure raise questions about citizens’ ability to vote freely and safely.
Yangon — December 23, 2025
Myanmar’s military administration is moving forward with plans to hold a general election under conditions shaped by ongoing armed conflict, political fragmentation, and widespread concerns over voter safety and freedom of choice.
The Union Election Commission has announced a phased election schedule, citing security and administrative constraints:
- First Phase: December 28, 2025
- Second Phase: January 11, 2026
- Third Phase: January 25, 2026
The three-stage structure reflects the reality that large parts of the country remain affected by fighting that followed the 2021 military takeover, making a nationwide single-day vote impractical.
At the same time, the electoral process faces pressure from armed resistance groups, including People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and several Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs). In areas under their influence, public warnings have reportedly been issued discouraging or threatening participation in the election. These warnings have targeted voters, candidates, and election workers alike.
From a neutral, rights-based perspective, such actions raise serious concerns about fundamental democratic freedoms. International norms recognize the right of citizens to participate in elections without fear or coercion, including the right to vote, to stand as a candidate, or to abstain according to personal conviction. Threats or intimidation from any actor—state or non-state—undermine these principles.
Ethnic political parties, including the USDP, Zomi National Party, etc., find themselves operating in an especially difficult environment, navigating security risks while attempting to engage voters and maintain political presence in their communities.
The State Administration Council (SAC) has stated that it is taking measures to protect the election process. State-run media, including Myanma Alinn, reported that Home Affairs Minister Lt-Gen. Tun Tun Naung said authorities had “identified and taken action against 229 people in 140 cases of attempts to disrupt the election.”
As the election approaches, Myanmar faces a profound contradiction: an effort to proceed with a constitutional mechanism in a landscape where violence, fear, and political pressure continue to restrict the conditions necessary for free and meaningful participation. For many citizens, the coming weeks will test not only the electoral process itself, but the broader principle of individual political choice under the rule of law.
