The Election Commission should announce the guidelines and restrictions on canvassing to be followed during the time of COVID-19 according to U Win Maw Oo, Secretary of the Mon State Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The parties find it difficult to conduct the election canvassing campaigns due to the restrictions against the COVID-19. The Union Election Commission needs to issue the rules so that they can do their canvassing. 

U Win Maw Oo added, “The same rules should be applied equally to the ruling party and all other parties to prevent the ruling party circumventing COVID -19 restrictions.”

U Hein Lin Htet, Secretary of the Mon State Election Sub-Commission responded “The Union Election Commission is working on the canvassing period. The sub-commission will inform the respective parties about the UEC’s directives as quickly as possible.”

Naing San Tin, Joint Secretary-2 of the Mon Unity Party called on the commission to build more polling stations due to COVID-19 and to hold a discussion with the political parties.

He also commented that up till now the commission has not released any details about the canvassing period. As a matter of fact, the voting date is very important in the COVID-19 period. It is impossible for all voters to cast their votes on Election Day due to the current number of voters. According to my experience in the 2010 and 2015 General Elections, the voting did not finish on time. That is why the commission needs to increase the number of polling stations.

Mon State has more than 1,750,000 eligible voters. The Mon State Election Sub-Commission plans to open more than 950 polling stations.

A total of 302 candidates from 17 political parties and candidates will run for 45 constituencies. There will be stiff competition between the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the United Democratic Parties and the Mon Unity Party.