The Union Election Commission assigned by the State Administration Council with Order No. 7/2021 according to Section 419 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar inspected in detail the voter lists of 315 townships where the Multi-party General Election was held on 8th November 2020 in order to conduct the needed measures in accord with Section 402 of the Constitution, Section 11 of the Union Election Law and Section 53 of respective Hluttaw Election Law including the checking of voter lists in line with the future work plans of the State Administration Council. Moreover, the UEC inspected the voter lists and the casting of votes in each polling station of respective townships together with members of UEC, former members of respective township election sub-commissions, head of township police force, head of township Immigration and Population Department, township administrators and representatives of political parties, and interviewed the election sub-commission, polling station officers and members. [1]
According to the findings on voter lists of respective townships, there were 11,305,390 voter lists irregularities across the nation. Although the exact numbers of ballots were issued to the polling stations, there were missing ballot papers and also illegal extra ballot papers at each polling stations and it was found that it happened due to illegal unlawful activities. Findings in each State/Region were shown as attached supplementary files. [2]
In addition, the findings of the inspections on voter lists in each township, scrutiny of the ballot papers and the voting conditions were as follows: - [3]
(a) | The former Union Election Commission (UEC) appointed those who the region or state chief ministers favored as chairpersons and members of the election sub-commissions. |
(b) | Under the directives of the Union Government Office, a support group was formed and led by the region or state chief ministers to complete the voter lists and due to the group, there were two or three times duplication of voter lists. |
(c) | There was mass inclusion of people without citizenship scrutiny cards in the voter list as well as there were voters included in the voter list twice or more than three times with the same citizenship scrutiny cards. |
(d) | Following the directive issued by the former UEC to allow advance voting for voters aged 60 and above since 29.10.2020 prior to the Election Day, members of the NLD party campaign team visited the houses during the advance voting. |
(e) | Duplication of the voter lists and mass inclusion of voters without a national identification card occurred because the former UEC announced the advance voting of those who could not return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic on 8.10.2020 and 11.10.2020. |
(f) | Voters who did not have a citizenship scrutiny card were allowed to cast their ballots at the polling stations with the voter slips after the former UEC issued a directive on 19.8.2020 to enable voters who did not have a citizenship scrutiny card to cast their ballots, which did not comply with the respective Hluttaw Election Laws. |
(g) | With regard to the ballot papers used in polling stations on Election Day, it was instructed to consider ballot papers without UEC logo which had only (√) to consider as valid. |
(h) | A large number of voter list errors in polling station were not accidental but deliberate acts. |
(i) | The NLD party also interfered in each election process including collecting and compiling voter lists, election campaign, and advance voting process and voting processes on the Election Day with their power. |
(j) | The NLD party misused administrative power and the COVID-19 regulations and restrictions in electoral activities, including the campaigning of other political parties and Hluttaw candidates to grab State Power unlawfully. |
(k) | The former UEC misused its mandate and power and performed beyond the laws and rules. |
As the Multiparty Democracy General Election held on 8th November 2020 was not in compliance with the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Union Election Commission Law, respective Hluttaw laws and rules, in addition to the fact that it was found that the election was not free and fair, the announcement No. 2/2021 of annulment of the results of the 8th November election was issued by current Union Election Commission on 26th July 2021. [4]