Myanmar's ruling junta has released a limited plan for its upcoming December election, with the first phase of voting set to take place in only about a third of the nation's townships. This announcement comes as the country continues to be engulfed in conflict since the military's 2021 coup.

The military government announced earlier this week that the polls would be held in phases, beginning on December 28. The junta is promoting the vote as a solution to the ongoing civil war. However, vast areas of the country remain outside its control, and the military has been widely accused of attempting to use the election to legitimize its rule. Democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains in jail, and a UN expert has labeled the election a "fraud."

Election Details and Geographic Limitations

According to a notice in the state-run newspaper, the first round of voting will be held in just 102 of Myanmar's 330 townships. These include all townships in the capital, Naypyidaw, and about a quarter of those in the largest city, Yangon.

However, the military's limited ambitions are evident in regions where it faces heavy opposition. In Western Rakhine state, which is almost entirely controlled by ethnic fighters from the Arakan Army, voting will only occur in three of 17 townships. Similarly, in the northern Sagaing region, a stronghold for pro-democracy guerillas, voting will be held in about a third of the jurisdictions.

The junta has not yet announced the dates for subsequent voting rounds or specified which townships will be included.

Recent Developments and International Scrutiny

The military has recently claimed some territorial gains against its opponents as it tries to regain control ahead of the election. At the same time, it has imposed harsh prison sentences of up to 10 years for anyone who criticizes or protests against the election.

Myanmar's last election in 2020 was won by a landslide by Aung San Suu Kyi's party, which was then ousted by the military based on unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. The international community continues to view the junta's latest moves with skepticism.