"Today, 8 November 2024 marks the fourth anniversary of Myanmar’s 2020 Elections which have been defamed by the military’s fabricated narrative of electoral fraud to justify the attempted coup on 1 February 2021. The “State Administration Council” perpetuates this narrative of electoral fraud and claims to be preparing fresh elections by making changes to election and political party laws, implementing a new electoral system, and conducting a flawed census to create a new voter list.

Myanmar’s pro-democracy forces not only continue to resist military rule but are also engaged in redefining a constitutional framework for a future democratic and federal Myanmar.

In this context, it is opportune to reflect on Myanmar’s 2020 general election results, the strengths and weaknesses of its election system and questions of electoral design, and the role of Myanmar’s interim parliament which can assist in countering the military’s narrative and highlight the implications of its election plans.
Read more here: Myanmar Elections: Considerations for post-coup Myanmar, 8 November 2024 and the same in Myanmar language."

The publication reads, "On the fourth anniversary of Myanmar’s 8 November 2020 general elections, it is important to remember that its results reflect the legitimate will of its people. The military’s claims of fraudulent elections remain unsubstantiated, and the junta’s plans for an ‘election’ are illegal and an ill-conceived attempt to gain legitimacy. Junta organised elections will not bring stability to Myanmar and will further exacerbate conflict. Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement deserves international support in its efforts to build a genuine federal democratic union which includes electoral reform and the establishment of an independent election management body.

Myanmar’s people have struggled to freely express their will and choose their own government over a military regime at the ballot since independence. Following a top-down transition introduced by the military elite, this only changed with the 2015 and 2020 elections, although these, too, saw significant operational and security challenges, including the exclusion of the Rohingya from voting and a lack of transparency in Union Election Commission (UEC) decision-making.

Nevertheless, and despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 general elections were held in 95 % of Myanmar’s townships with a voter turnout of 71,89 %, and were declared ‘as reflective of the will of the voters of Myanmar’ by international and citizen election observers.

Myanmar’s neighbours and other countries in South and Southeast Asia also recognized the election result including China, India, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and Bangladesh among others."

In the further readings section, an evidence-based brief by International IDEA, namely "Unconstitutionality of the 2021 Military Coup in Myanmar" can also be found. The brief helps deconstruct the military regime's claim that it is adhering to the 2008 constitution. 

It is also noteworthy to revisit the Joint Statement by International Election Experts and Organizations on Myanmar, released on January 31, 2023, denouncing "the sham “election” that the illegal and illegitimate military junta of Myanmar, the State Administrative Council (SAC), and the illegitimate “Union Election Commission” it has established" are planning. 

One can also find credible election observers' reports on Myanmar's 2020 General Elections on our website: Resources > Publications on Myanmar Elections.