Low Voter Turnout in Myanmar Elections Under Military Shadow

Myanmar held its general elections on Sunday (28 December 2025), marking the country’s first vote since the military coup of 2021. However, residents in several cities reported notably low voter turnout.
The military junta claimed that the three-phase election would restore political stability, but the United Nations, Western nations, and human rights organizations have criticized it as neither free, fair, nor credible. Opposition parties were barred from participating, and public criticism of the election is legally restricted.
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained, and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party has been dissolved. Analysts suggest the junta-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is likely to return to power.
During the first phase of voting, turnout was reportedly much lower than in the 2020 election. Out of 330 townships, the junta announced that 265 would hold elections in phases, though full military control is not established across all areas. Preliminary results for the first phase were expected Sunday afternoon, but the final outcome has not yet been announced.
In the capital Naypyidaw, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing cast his vote under heavy security, stating that a parliamentary session would lead to the election of a president according to the law.
UN human rights envoy Tom Andrews said the election is not a solution to Myanmar’s crisis and should be rejected. Residents of Yangon, Mandalay, and other major cities reported mostly empty polling centers, with some citizens boycotting the vote following calls from rebel groups.
Analysts note that forming a stable, internationally recognized government amid ongoing conflict will be extremely challenging.