The plan to open an additional 124 polling stations in Arakan State due to the COVID-19 is underway, according to the Arakan State Election Commission.
“The election sub-commission previously planned to fix the number of voters from 300--3,000 at a polling station. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the sub-commission will reduce the maximum number of voters in one polling station to 1,000 voters,” said U Thurein Htut, Secretary of the Election Sub-Commission.
U Maung Tha Sein, Chair of Sittwe Town-elders Association said: “I will cast my vote if the systematic measures are being taken for COVID-19. If not, I will not go to the polling station for my safety.”
The sub-commission previously planned to open 2,595 polling stations in Arakan State. But now the number of polling stations has increased to 2,719 including an additional 124 polling stations.
According to the second display of voters’ lists, the total number of eligible voters increased by1,647,000, according to the Arakan State Election Sub-Commission. There are 30 days left until the election scheduled for November 8.
