In Myitkyina District, over 60 senior citizen voters, pregnant women, disabled and those with poor health had to cast their early votes on October 29 before the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic prevention materials that are supposed to be used at the polling stations.

Myitkyina District Election Commission branch chairman Than Swe said that these voters had to cast their early votes before the arrival of these pandemic prevention health materials sent by the COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee.

Moreover some polling stations in wards and village-tracts in Myitkyina district are not spacious enough for required social distancing as prescribed by Ministry of Health and Sports in its announcements as the dimensions of these polling stations are less than the required space.

In its announcement made on October 25, Union Election Commission (UEC) imposed the guidelines and protocols to be abided by the polling stations where the early votes will be cast by keeping social distancing, wearing face masks, having hand sanitizers and digital thermometers for the containing and prevention of the pandemic.

In observation of early voting in Myitkyina city by visiting polling stations, most voters were found wearing face masks but there were no hand sanitizer bottles kept at some polling stations where many voters came and cast their votes. Some polling stations in wards where only few voters came and vote were found with hand sanitizer bottles kept ready for voters.