2025–26 Myanmar general election Citizens of Myanmar vote in the second phase to elect the nation's bicameral legislature. One more phase of voting is expected in late...

65 of the country’s 330 townships will see no vote at all.

Critics say the polls organized by the military government are neither free nor fair and are an effort by the military to legitimize its rule after seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

An official of the Union Election Commission shows a slip as they count ballots at a polling station during the second phase of general election in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Jan.

An official of the Union Election Commission counts ballots at a polling station during the second phase of general election in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, Jan.

A voter shows his finger, marked with ink to indicate he voted, at a polling station during the second phase of general election in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, Jan.

Sandar Min, an individual candidate for an election and former parliament member from ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, shows off her finger marked with ink indicating she voted at a polling station during the second phase of general election Sunday, Jan.

Voters wait for a polling station to open during the second phase of general election in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, Jan.

YANGON, Myanmar () — Myanmar began a second round of voting Sunday in its first general election since the military takeover five years ago.

Voting expanded to additional townships including some areas affected by the civil war between the military government and its armed opponents.

Tom Andrews, a special rapporteur working with the U.N.

Human rights office, urged the international community Thursday to reject what he called a “sham election,” saying the first round exposed coercion, violence and political exclusion.

“You cannot have a free, fair or credible election when thousands of political prisoners are behind bars, credible opposition parties have been dissolved, journalists are muzzled, and fundamental freedoms are crushed,” Andrews said.

The political importance lies in whether the issue moves from public comment into formal action, party response, court record, election authority notice or administrative decision.