I.M.N.A — The Japanese government has donated electric lamps for polling stations for next month's election in Mon State, according to the Mon State Election Sub-Commission. The lamps will be used at polling stations that don't have electricity “They last a long time after the batteries have been charged,” said U Htin Kyaw, an officer with Mon State’s Mawlamyaing District Election Sub-Commission.
Mon State has 919 polling stations and 334 polling stations do not have electricity, according to U Hein Linn Htet, deputy director of the Mon State Election Sub-Commission.
In the name of the people of Japan two electric lamps have been sent to the polling stations that don't have electricity, said U Htin Kyaw.
U Htein Linn Htet also said that small power generators have been arranged for all polling stations to be used in case of emergency.
He added that the arrangements have been made after negotiating with the Mon State government and respective administrative departments since electricity is crucial for not only counting ballots at the polling stations but also for ward/village commission offices that are carrying out electoral affairs.
Mon State has 467 Ward/Village Election Commission offices and some of them lack electricity.
A total of 919 special police officers have been appointed to guard the polling stations in Mon State and a special training course is being held for these newly deputized police.
Although there were about one million eligible voters in Mon State during the 2010 Election, the number has grown to 1.4 million for the 2015 Election, according to the Mon State Sub-Commission. Currently, over two million people live in Mon State.
Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.
