• Polling stations opened for the last phase of Myanmar's election on January 25.
• The military-backed party is on track for a significant victory amid allegations of a stacked ballot.
• Voter turnout remains low at approximately 55%, down from previous elections.

Polling stations in Myanmar opened on January 25 for the final round of a general election, dominated by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which is expected to secure a vast majority of the votes despite widespread condemnation of the electoral process. Observers have criticized the election as a mechanism to perpetuate military rule, amidst a civil war ignited by a coup in 2021 that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains detained. Reports indicate that voter turnout during previous phases of the election has hovered around 55%, significantly lower than rates seen in the 2020 elections, which were approximately 70% according to Reuters, Le Monde, and Channel News Asia.

As the election unfolds, significant concerns arise regarding the legitimacy of the process, with analysts remarking that the military is leveraging the vote to lend a facade of civilian governance to its longstanding dominance. The USDP has been reported to have secured over 85% of the lower house seats thus far, a development characterized by critics as indicative of the military's manipulation of the political landscape. The constitution, drafted under military influence, reserves a quarter of parliamentary seats for military officials, further entrenching their power in the legislative process. According to the election commission, this ongoing election comes under increased scrutiny as civil resistance against the military assumes various, often violent, forms across the nation. This perspective is echoed by statements from analysts and residents who express distrust in the electoral outcomes, reminders of the severe repression faced by dissenters under current laws, as elaborated in Reuters, Le Monde, and Channel News Asia.

Despite claims from the junta that the election is free from coercion, many citizens feel pressured to vote to avoid repercussions. Those who express dissent face arrest under strict laws aimed at suppressing criticism of the election process. Notably, over 400 individuals have reportedly been charged for such acts of resistance, further indicating the repressive environment surrounding these elections. As the voting continues, the outcome is anticipated to solidify military control, raising concerns about the future political landscape and the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, as highlighted by multiple sources including Reuters, Le Monde, and Channel News Asia.