Around 5,000 voters in Arakan State have lost their advance voting rights due to the cancellation of election in nine townships and 15 wards and 137 village-tracts in four townships. In Arakan State, more than 9,000 people have been registered for advance votes.

U Thurein Htut, Secretary of the Arakan State Election Sub-Commission said: “There are over 4,000 advance votes we have received. The sub-commission has not opened the envelopes yet.”

U San Thar Maung, Chair of Sittwe Township Election Sub-Commission said: “The sub-commission has received advance vote envelopes. These envelopes will be opened in the presence of representatives from the parties and commission members. At present, there is no plan to open them until October 25th. The election sub-commission has received over 150 advance votes in Sittwe Township for the voters living outside their constituencies.”

The UEC has canceled the elections in Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Yathaedaung, Buthedaung, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Myaebon and MraukU Townships and also excluded two wards and 52 village-tracts in Kyaukphyu Township, three wards and 29 village-tracts in Ann Township, four village-tracts in Sittwe Township and 10 wards and 52 village-tracts in Taunggup Township. The cancellation of the elections disenfranchised over 1.2 million out of over 1,640,000 eligible voters in Arakan State, according to the Arakan State Election Sub-Commission.

U Tun Tun Aung, a candidate from the Arakan National Party (ANP) in Sittwe Township said: “I feel worried about the lack of fairness. I am afraid we will not have a free and fair election. Advance voting is part of voters rights. It is the responsibility of the election commission to ensure it will be a fair election.”

The UEC previously planned to open 2,595 polling stations in 17 townships in Arakan State. But now there will be only 744 polling stations in eight townships due to the cancellation of so many constituencies, according to the Arakan Election Monitoring Committee.