The Election Commission (EC) for Kachin State announced it made special provisions for indigenous people without national ID cards to be able to vote during the 2020 general election.

 

Tun Aung Khine, deputy head of Kachin State EC, told NMG said indigenous populations without ID were included on eligible voting lists.

 

"Because indigenous people have been living in Kachin State for generations. They are the ethnic people of our country.

 

We won't include other people in the voter list if they don't have a national ID card, only indigenous people," he told NMG.

 

The EC collected lists of populations in Myitkyina, Bhamo, Mohnyin and Putao districts in Kachin State.

 

But election officials were unable to reach other key areas controlled by armed groups or affected by conflict.

 

About 1.1 million people are registered to vote on the November 8 election day.

 

During the 2015 general election, there were about 870,000, meaning Kachin State's voting population increased by about 230,000.