Overseas Myanmar Voters Spurn Election Despite Junta Intimidation

Overseas advance voting for the junta-organized election has begun, with Myanmar embassies in several countries announcing ballot dates for expatriates. The regime is pressing migrants to participate despite widespread rejection of the polls as illegitimate.

The Myanmar Embassy in Egypt said voting would run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 during office hours. In Thailand, home to the largest Myanmar migrant community, the embassy announced ballots could be cast on Dec. 6 and 7 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The consulate in Chiang Mai also declared that migrants in northern districts could vote from Dec. 1 to 4 if they present passports and citizenship ID cards.

Millions of citizens fled Myanmar after the 2021 coup triggered armed conflicts, economic collapse, conscription and repressive rule. The regime, desperate to stage an election that would offer a veneer of legitimacy, has resorted to pressure tactics against overseas communities.