Last week in Mudon and Ye Townships, Mon State, the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) directed all village headman to prepare the polling booth stations by collecting 1000 kyat per villager’s home.

Someone close to south Mudon Townships’ village headman said, they will collect the money to buy a table, chair, and curtains for the polling station.

“They have to prepare the polling station themselves,” said a TPDC member close to the village headmen.

Collections were taken from Htone-mun village, Kwan-ka-bue village, Naing-praing village and Kwan-tha village in Mudon Township.

According to villager form Palaike village, Ye Township, these villagers had to 1000 kyat to prepare the polling station as well.

Collection vary according to one polling station officer. Some townships have collected and some have not. For example, Thanphyuzayart Township in Mon State has not collected this fee.

“The ballot commission already gave 20,000 kyat for the preparation of the polling station. So we don’t need to collect the money. Also, each polling station officer will be given 3,000 kyat for their duties,” said the same officer in Thanphyuzayart Township. Even with the donation from the ballot commission, there are still some village headman who are collecting money from their villagers.