October 07, 2020
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited and observed a practical demonstration of the voting process under the COVID-19 prevention guidelines for the 2020 General Election. A practical demonstration was conducted at the No. 5 Basic Education High School in Zabuthiri Township in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday to simulate the voting process at the No. 1 Polling Station at Ward 1 of Yankin Township in Yangon Region.
On arrival at the demonstration site, she was welcomed by Union Election Commission Chairman U Hla Thein, Union Minister for the Office of the Union Government U Min Thu, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman Dr Myo Aung, UEC members, Deputy Minister Dr Mya Lay Sein and officials.
Director-General of UEC office, U Khin Maung Oo, gave a briefing on the practical demonstration in accordance with preventive measures against COVID-19 on the voting day, preparations for health care guidelines for voting at the polling stations of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and other regions/states, and duty assignment of polling station officer, deputy polling station officer and other polling station staff. He also briefed about checking voters lists, giving out ballots to voters, and arrangements on how to manage the people outside the polling station.
Later the State Counsellor and party observed the practical demonstration conducted at polling station number 1 of Zeya Theikdhi ward, Zabuthiri Township. The demonstrations included taking body temperatures of voters queuing outside the polling stations, giving out facemasks, cleansing of hands using hand sanitizers, management of voters outside the polling station and the casting of votes during the prescribed voting hours.
The State Counsellor gave advice on social distancing in the queue, systematic handwashing and other necessary matters.
The State Counsellor warmly greeted the staff members who participated in the practical demonstration of the voting process from the Office of the President, the Union Election Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of State Counsellor’s Office, and the Ministry of Union Government Office, and asked them to report on difficulties during the practical demonstration and to submit suggestions to the relevant departments.
The No. 1 polling station of Zeya Theikdi Ward in Zabuthiri will be used for 2,103 voters, while there are 811 eligible voters for the No.1 Polling Station in Ward 1 of Yankin Township in Yangon which was selected as a polling station for the practical demonstration in the simulation exercise.
According to the latest reports, the numbers of eligible voters in the respective townships of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory are 85,513 in Zabuthiri Township, 27,786 in Dekkhinathiri Township, 132,457 in Pyinmana Township, 217,620 in Lewe Township, 79,029 in Zeyathiri Township, 178,844 in Tatkon Township, 92,869 in Pubbathiri Township and 52,469 in Ottarathiri Township respectively.
MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
