Political Parties in Kayah State Prioritize Educating Voters Over Campaigning

Political Parties in Kayah State Prioritize Educating Voters Over Campaigning
by -
Kantarawaddy Times

Some political parties running in Kayah state say they are focusing on educating potential voters about the voting process rather talking about the their party programs or doing actual campaigning. Sai San Aye of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) said that candidates from his party are doing this because a lack of understanding among much of the voting public about the voting process.  

“Our party has been explaining about the voting process. In the past we only explained about the party’s programs. Now we are doing this [voter education]. The public doesn’t understand,” he said.

He added that much of the misunderstanding has arisen from the use of advanced voting during the previous election.

Residents of the Hpruso Township constituency are unable to decide on which candidate to vote for as they still do not understand why the election is being held, says Khu Thae Reh from the All Nationalities Democracy Party (ANDP).  He will be competing for a seat in the lower house that covers this township.

"In villages, only one out of ten people know about the election. Even so, such kind of people are quite rare,” he explained.

Although it is the Union Election Commission’s (UEC) duty to educate the public about the election, candidates say only the parties themselves seem to be carrying out this duty.

Likewise many candidates competing in constituencies in Rakhine State are also focusing on explaining the voting process instead of campaigning.

Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.

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