U Hein Lin Htet, of the Mon State Election Sub-commission said: “Form (3-Ka) is not only for migrant workers working in Mon State but also those who have lived in the state for over 180 days.”

Of the 20,000 plus people who applied for Form (3-Ka), about 10,000 are in Moulmein District and about 10,000 are in Thaton District.

According to their respective township election sub-commissions in the 6 townships of Moulmein District, the number of eligible voters with a valid  Form (3-Ka) is: over 4,000 in Moulmein Township, about 719 in Chaungzone Township, 1,571 in Mudon Township, 2,592 in Ye Township, and 2,020 in Kyaikmayaw Township.

Other migrant workers were unable to register to vote.

According to candidates from the various parties competing in Ye Township other migrant workers in Ye Township did not have the necessary valid documents, so it was hard for them to register to vote. Because many also did not know how the registration procedure worked it made it even harder for them to register themselves.

U Myo Win, the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) candidate for Ye Township Constituency No. 8 said: “At most of the places we have been to migrant workers are having difficulties [registering] to vote. It will only be possible for them to vote if local election sub-commission and administrators cooperate with them.”

In Mon state, there are tens of thousands of migrant workers from Bago and Irrawaddy divisions. Within Ye Township alone there are more than 20,000 migrant workers employed in industries such as fisheries, rubber plantations, orchards and other daily-wage work.

The names of those who have successfully registered with Form (3-Ka) and who will be eligible to vote were announced at their respective ward or village sub-commission offices one week ahead of the elections.

As of 5 November the successful applicants started to receive the necessary documents that enable them to vote.

Reported by IMNA
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI