The Chin National Party (CNP) made a fervent appeal to the Township Election Commission on November 3 to stop advance voting in Hakha town.

“We wrote a letter to the Township Election Commission to stop the advance voting system in Hakha town. A copy of the letter has been sent to the District and State Election Commission,” said a leader of the CNP in Hakha town.

Government employees in the State Secretariat office, Construction office in the old market block, the State General Administration office and Agriculture office in the new market block, were asked to vote in advance in Hakha town.

“We have the right to vote for whichever party we want to and cannot be forced to vote for a particular party by the government. The ostensible reason for advance voting is to avoid excessive crowds of voters on election day on 7 November,” said an employee of the Agriculture Department.

Similarly, government employees in Rihkhawdar new town, Falam township in Chin state were ordered to cast votes in advance in early November 2010.