Myanmar's Elections: A Licentious Process under Military Control

Mon Feb 02 2026 18:50:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Myanmar holds elections marred by widespread bans and civil war, the military-backed party is poised to claim a massive victory amidst claims of a sham electoral process.

Myanmar conducted its third election in a year under the military regime, characterized by bans on popular parties and a civil war limiting voting capabilities. Critics label the elections a sham, with the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) expected to dominate the results despite international condemnation.

Polls in Myanmar have closed after a third and final stage of voting in what are widely viewed as sham elections.

Many popular parties are banned from standing and voting has not been possible in large areas of the country because of a five-year-long civil war.

The dominant party backed by the ruling military junta is expected to win a landslide victory.

The current regime has rejected international criticism of the election, maintaining that it is free and fair.

Around one-fifth of the country's 330 townships, including the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, voted in the last stage. Six parties, including the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), fielded candidates nationwide, while another 51 parties and independent candidates decided to contest state and regional levels.

Two previous rounds were held on 28 December and 11 January - giving overwhelming victories to the USDP. The party won only 6% of parliamentary seats in the last free election in 2020.

As in previous rounds of this strange, month-long election, voting was orderly and peaceful at the polling station in Nyaungshwe, Shan State, which a BBC team observed. Set in a large school, shaded by huge rain trees, there were ample volunteers an officials to guide voters where to go, and how to make their choice using the new, locally-made electronic voting machines.

However, polling day was preceded by a campaigning period marked by fear, intimidation and a pervasive sense that little will change after the inevitable victory by the USDP. Everywhere the BBC team travelled in southern Shan State, they were followed and closely monitored by dozens of police and military officials, always polite but very persistent.

The next steps after the final results are announced are laid down in the military-drafted constitution. Parliament will meet within the next two months to choose a new president, and everyone expects that to be the coup leader Gen Min Aung Hlaing. It will be the same regime with civilian clothes.

The military junta took control of Myanmar in a 2021 coup, ousting an elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains in detention. This has compounded the struggles the nation faces amidst ongoing civil war, which has killed thousands and displaced millions.