Salai Kyaw Moe Tun — Even though the election is only days away, some residents of Chin State’s Mindat Township are still lacking crucial knowledge about how to vote.
“What worries residents the most about the election is the voting process. Some of the town residents (Mindat town) are educated about it, but in the villages many are not. They are afraid of voting for the wrong candidates, or having invalid ballots,” said a Chin Women Organization (CNF) representative.
Rural residents don’t even know they need to seal their ballot after voting; during the last national election in 2010 it wasn’t required.
“We can’t travel to villages to educate them because the roads are bad and communication is poor. However, we trained the polling station officers and deputy officers,” the CNF representative explained.
U Naing Ohn, District Election Commission Office’s deputy chief officer for Mindat Township, said they have provided adequate training to the chairperson of each ward and village sub-commission and they will ensure the villagers cast their votes properly.
There are 194 villages in Mindat Township, with 4 wards in town representing about 24,000 eligible voters. The current Chin State Chief Minister U Hong Ngai will contest Mindat Township’s Lower House Constituency No 2 under the Union Solidarity and Development Party.
A total of 223 candidates from 13 political parties, including 7 independent candidates, are contesting the 39 seats available in Chin State.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
