Myanmar's Military Holds an Election. Most Can't Vote.

Myanmar's military government will hold a national election on Sunday, December 28. It is the first vote since the army seized power in a 2021 coup. The election is widely seen as an attempt by the military, known as the Tatmadaw, to gain political legitimacy. This comes as it fights a major civil war against many armed resistance groups. The State Administration Council, the military's governing body, ended a four-year state of emergency in July. It has now created new commissions to oversee the vote. However, critics call the process a sham. Key opposition parties have been banned. The military has also excluded voting in large areas of the country where conflict is most intense, preventing millions from participating.