Sittwe Residents Angry They Couldn’t Vote

Sittwe Residents Angry They Couldn’t Vote
by -
San Maung Than

San Maung Than — Echoing the experiences of many across Myanmar, some voters in Arakan State lost their right to cast their ballots during Sunday’s historic election due to irregularities on the voting list.

“I couldn’t vote because my name wasn’t included in the voter list. My name was included in the first one and my number was 4061, but it wasn’t on the latest release,” said Daw Oo Than Tin, a 50-year-old woman from Sittwe.

Among her family of five, only three were allowed to vote at Polling Station 2 in Mingan ward in Mingan Township, and that has made her very upset.

Daw Khin Than  also couldn’t vote, yet her landlord had no problem.

“I was not included because the election officials weren’t thorough enough,” she said.

Altogether about 70 people couldn’t  vote, yet many were still lined until the polling station closed hopeful the issue could be addressed.

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff

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