In addition to the nine townships in Chin State, voter lists have also been posted in 782 places including 510 village tracts and temporary refugee camps. The State Election Commission has conducted a survey of people and according to this survey more than 75 percent of the people listed have come to check the voter list.

“They came to check the voter list to see whether their names are included or not. Only 37 percent of the people were interested in the basic voter list. Now, this is up to 75 percent. Many people came to check the list so the commission believes they are interested in voting. We kept a survey of those that came to check the voter list by placing a national ID book in the areas where the voter lists have been posted,” he continued.

“Parties are campaigning and people have been checking the voter list with interest so I think they are more serious about voting,” said Salai Pi Pi, who is running for the Chin State Parliament from a Falam constituency.

After landslides in July caused the collapse of houses and destruction of roads in Chin State, it has been difficult to access some areas. Despite the claims of the state's election commission Many residents appear to be more interested in finding out when the roads will be repaired and vehicles will start running again, and what kind of aid the government will provide, rather than checking for their names on the voter list.

“In our town, some people are still living in refugee camps because they don’t have any houses to stay in. Resettlement still can’t be carried out yet. Our town has not been included in the resettlement program carried out by the government. In a time like this, daily living and returning back home is more important than voting,” said a youth leader from Tidim (also Tedim) Township.

Some candidates believe there may be fewer voters in the areas where resettlement has yet to have been carried out.

“There were landslides in the state. Some people don’t have any homes so they are staying in gymnasiums and churches. They are facing challenges for their life security and food. In a situation like this, I couldn’t ask them to vote for us. I didn’t want to ask them. I can sympathize with them.

That’s why I think only 45 percent of the people are interested in voting,” said U Son Zi Man, a candidate for State Parliament from Chin State Constituency No 1.

The constituencies in the Chin State cover 18 seats in the State Parliament, 12 seats in the Upper House, and nine seats in the Lower House. The updated voter list received on September 27th shows that Chin State has 273,673 eligible voters.
Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI