Responding to a flood of ethnic protests over the actions of the Union Election Commission (UEC) that barred more than a million voters from participating in the November 8th election, the UEC reversed some cancellations in a statement on October 28th. with several constituencies in Arakan State and Shan State recovering their voting rights.

But in conflict-ridden Paletwa where UEC had previously been blind to a lack of security, the election body has also suddenly discovered that 94 village-tracts in Paletwa Township of Chin State are not after all in a position to hold a free and fair election and so in their case voting is canceled.

The UEC previously canceled the elections in 54 wards and village-tracts in Kyaukphyu Township, 32 wards and village-tracts in Ann Township in Arakan State. But now the UEC has lifted the election ban on three village-tracts in Kyaukphyu Township and four village-tracts in Ann Township from the list of canceled constituencies.

In a separate statement, the UEC canceled ten wards and village-tracts in Muse Township, six village-tracts in Lashio and one village-tract in Kwanlone Township in Shan State. Now the election will be allowed in the Tawywet ward in Muse Township, Malham village-tract in Lashio Township and Manpyain village-tract in Kwanlone Township.

Citing that the areas are not in a position to hold a free and fair election, the UEC on October 16th canceled the elections in 15 constituencies, 23 wards and 558 village-tracts across the country—192 village-tracts in 11 townships in Kachin State, 53 village-tracts in six townships in Karen State, one village-tract in one township of Mon State, 42 village-tracts in two townships in Bago Region, nine townships and 15 wards and 137 village-tracts in four townships in Arakan State and six townships, eight wards and 133 village-tracts in 17 townships in Shan State.