THE Myanmar Electronic Voting Machine (MEVM) will be used for the first time in Myanmar during this year’s general election, according to a press conference held on 4 July and jointly organized by the Union Election Commission and the Myanmar Press Council.

More than 50,000 MEVMs will be produced and distributed for use.

“The MEVM makes voting easy and simple. It does not require internet or electricity, and it is lightweight and portable, allowing it to be used anywhere. The machine uses a UPS battery, commonly used in computers, which can be easily purchased on the market. Provisions have also been made to accommodate voters with disabilities. The machine has been tested hundreds of thousands of times for flaws, and none have been found so far,” U Nyi Nyi Lwin, Deputy Director-General of the Union Election Commission, told GNLM.

In addition, he explained, “At the voting booth, the voter must select their preferred option when the green light above the voting machine button turns on, and then press the button to cast their vote. The voter can also review the ballot paper on the monitor to confirm whether it reflects their choice. The MEVM will generate the voter list shortly after the polling stations close, eliminating the need to wait for hours. This MEVM can be easily used not only in the general election, but also in referendums and other elections for Union-level organizations.”

By using the MEVM, issues such as rejected votes and problems associated with paper ballots, like wax markings or the insertion of duplicate ballots, will reportedly be eliminated. The press conference was held on the morning of 4 July at the ShweUDaung Hall, News and Periodicals Enterprise office, in Botahtaung Township, Yangon Region.

ASH/TH

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