UEC organizes coordination meeting with ministries for 2020 General Election

Commissions & Committees/ Office No. 22, Nay Pyi Taw / July 16, 2020

UEC Chair U Hla Thein presides over the meeting on 15 July to prepare for 2020 General Election

The Union Election Commission held a coordination meeting at its headquarters with relevant Union ministries regarding the 2020 General Election in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Present at the meeting were UEC Chairman U Hla Thein and commission members, deputy ministers and officials of invited ministries, and officials from the commission's office. Speaking at the meeting, U Hla Thein said the General Elections for 2020 will be held on 8 November and since it is a nationwide election, the cooperation of all relevant ministries is paramount. He said that Ministry of Office of Union Government and the Ministry of Labour, Im- migration and Population issued a joint action plan implemented since 2019 to ensure the electoral roll has the correct number of eligible voters and to make sure those voters can exercise their right to vote.

UEC Chair said that there are 37 million eligible voters nationwide and the election sub-commissions make monthly reviews, additions and amend- ments to the electoral roll. He said they will announce the list of voters twice in accordance with existing laws but the people need to check whether their names are in the list or not themselves.

Anyone can apply for inclusion with a Form-3 if their name is not in the list, object to the inclusion of a person with valid reasons with Form-4, and amend incorrect information in the electoral roll with Form-4c). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will arrange advance voting procedures for citizens abroad.

He said they will form elec tion security management committees and electoral coordination committees and if there are requirements from past experiences, then the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence are asked to provide suggestions. He asked the Ministry of Border Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation to assist in their respective sectors, the Office of the Union Attorney-General to assist in legal matters, and the Office of the Union Auditor-General to ensure election costs and expenditures are valid.

UEC Chair also asked the Ministry of Education for the arrangement of polling stations and appointment of station officers and staff. He asked the Ministry of Information to continue conducting voter awareness and voting education and to ensure the ballots for voting are printed systematically. He said they are cooperating with the Ministry of Health and Sports to conduct all necessary procedures in line with their regulations concerning COVID-19. He said the 2020 General Election will be held in line with 5 norms and asked for feedback and suggestions from officials present at the meeting.

The director-general of the UEC's office explained the preparations for the 2020 General Election and officials provided their feedback and suggestions. UEC officials responded to the discussions before the concluding remark of UEC Chair.