YANGON (Xinhua): Myanmar's first phase of the 2025 multi-party democratic general election recorded a voter turnout of 52.13 per cent, Zaw Min Tun, leader of the Information Team of Myanmar's National Defense and Security Council, has announced.
The first phase of the election, which was completed on Dec. 28, covered 102 of the country's 330 townships, representing roughly one-third of the total, he added.
Across Myanmar, more than 24.26 million people were eligible to vote in the 2025 general election. For the first phase, over 11.69 million voters were registered, and more than 6.09 million cast their ballots, he said.
A total of 57 political parties have been contesting the general election, including six parties running nationwide. Overall, 4,863 parliamentary candidates have been competing in the polls, he added.
Observation teams from nine countries visited polling stations to monitor the first phase of the election on the election day. Additionally, 31 staff members from 14 foreign embassies based in Myanmar, along with 52 local media organizations, 1,177 journalists, 61 foreign media organizations, and 215 foreign journalists, observed the election process, he said.
On the election day, 11 townships in the regions and states of Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Tanintharyi, Sagaing, and Mandalay faced attacks, including mines, explosives, and vehicle obstructions, he noted. Despite these challenges, security forces, election officials, and voters managed to hold the polls as scheduled, he said.
The government expressed gratitude to all organizations and personnel involved in organizing the election, he said.
He also stressed that the authorities will make efforts to ensure the success of the second and third phases, scheduled for Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, 2026, respectively. - Xinhua
