Myanmar military reports 50 percent turnout in first election phase

Military hails elections as a ‘victory’, despite criticism from rights groups and reduced turnout compared with past polls.Published On 31 Dec 2025Myanmar’s military has claimed a voter turnout of more than 50 percent in the first stage of its national elections, framing the vote as “successful” despite widespread condemnation as a “sham” poll from rights groups.Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun said 52 percent of enrolled voters – more than six million people – cast their ballots on Sunday in the first phase of the three-part election, held amid an ongoing civil war.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Myanmar regime claims Aung San Suu Kyi ‘in good health’ despite son’s fearslist 2 of 3‘A comedy show’: Myanmar youth in exile slam military-run ‘sham’ electionlist 3 of 3Week in Pictures: From Gaza rains, France farmers protests to Myanmar voteend of listThe pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claimed an overwhelming victory. One senior party official suggested the USDP, led by retired generals and often described as a civilian proxy for the military, had won more than 80 percent of seats contested in the lower house of the legislature.‘Violence and repression’Rights advocates and Western diplomats have slammed the vote as a “sham”, citing the military’s broad crackdown on dissent and the exclusion of parties critical of its rule.“These elections are clearly taking place in an environment of violence and repression,” United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said on December 23. “There are no conditions for the exercise of the rights of freedom of expression, association or peaceful assembly that allow for the free and meaningful participation of the people.”Turnout was also well below the levels seen in the last national elections in 2020, which stood at about 70 percent.Still, the military presented the result as a resounding success.“Even in developed democratic nations, there are situations where voter turnout does not exceed 50 percent,” Min Tun said, hailing ‌the turnout as a “source of pride”.