Pre-election Statement

Kachin State CSOs Electoral Consortium

1. Background and methodology

The Kachin State CSOs Electoral Consortium (KSCEC) was formed in 2019 with the aspiration of
helping to ensure free and fair elections and striving to improve the electoral system which
accommodates the federal democracy arrangements desired by the country and other necessary reforms.
This is a collaboration among the CSOs based in Kachin State operating a joint election monitoring and
reporting focusing on the elections in Kachin State. Several CSOs in Kchin State had already observed
elections in 2015, issuing a report with recommendations to the Union Election Commission previously.
The synergic effort of the KSCEC as domestic election observation entity was officialized by the
accreditation of Union Election Commission on 29.9.2020 with the name of Humanity Institute as a
Lead Organization which headquarters in Myitkyina.
The methodology for this observation mission follows the standards set out in the Declaration of Global
Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Observation Missions.
Working towards the improvements in the election framework and resounding the voice of CSO in
national electoral reforms debates in the future, the validation of the monitoring is more important than
ever before. Thus, the consortium is formed in a very systematic organization: the mission director,
Mission coordinator, Electoral Analysts, Area Observation Coordinators, Observers. For the efficient
implementation, two Electoral Analysts, four Area Observation Coordinators, and twelve Long Term
Observers are deployed with the explicit data collection procedures.

The Covid-19 Pandemic posed several challenges to this election observation mission, in particular:
• Online trainings for all observers had to be arranged instead of in-person trainings and
workshops
• Delivery of observer accreditation badges to LTOs was challenging due to the travel restrictions
between townships
• Recruitment of STOs was challenging as the pool of volunteers who agreed to spend a full day
in a potentially crowded polling station was concerned about catching covid-19.

2. Main findings on the election campaign

Political context/Background

1,149,814 registered voters will select 70 candidates from 410 candidates from 17 political parties
including 15 Independent candidates, competing for 70 seats across 18 Townships. There are about
22,344 registered voters in IDP camps. On 16 Oct, the UEC announces cancellation of polls in 192
village-tracts, 66 of which are under the control of armed groups and 87 are largely inhabited.
Almost none consultation among the electoral stakeholders initiated by UEC, only one-time-meeting
with civil societies on 17 July, 2020 for the preparation of the election and no more consultations
afterwards, puts the stakeholders in a difficult situation for the electoral coordination and
implementation, particularly in time of COVID-19 pandemic. Some parties have shown dissatisfaction
with the UEC decision for cancellations. In addition, ethnic parties complained against UEC for
reducing the voting rights of the migrants who have lived inside the constituency for 6 months (180
days) to 3 months (90 days). Due to the censorship of the UEC, the KSPP chose to life-stream on their
social media page instead of going live on government media.

Findings from long term observer reports (September 29 to November 7, 2020)

Union Election Commission/Kachin State Election Commission

• Overall, the reports in the areas observed show that the UEC implemented the process
according to the procedures and in line with the law.
• Lack of training and lack of materials are some of the problems observed in the election
administration in the areas observed.

Election administration

• A majority of local people were aware of the composition township election sub-
commission in the areas observed.
• Participation of women in the election sub-commission is very high in the areas
observed. The information of current and previous election process and results is
accessible by media and parties in the areas observed.
• The information of the current election commission is disseminated by various means,
especially by social and traditional media.
• The existence of election dispute and resolution committee is known by candidates and
parties in the areas observed. And the acceptance of electoral dispute resolution
committees is significantly approved by parties in the areas observed.
• Township election sub-commission is short of well-trained personnel and necessary
materials in the areas observed.

Voter education and voter information

• Our observers found different voter education efforts, including by the UEC and in local
languages. Voter education reached most of the IDP camps observed.
 • Voters still find it challenging to find their names on the voter list and/or to apply for corrections
in the areas observed.
• Voter education prior to election generally reached out to the people and was responsive
to the needs of the people in the areas obsereved.
• The language used for voter education was predominantly Burmese, while other ethnic
languages such as Jingphaw, Rawang, Shan and others were observed too.
• Voter lists were properly displayed and were accessible to people with disability.
• The majority of voter list display followed MOHS instruction on covid-19 prevention
measures. The information of voter registration is highly accessible.
• Although voter education is prevalent, the quality and effectiveness of voter education
programs are questionable in the areas observed.
• Materials distribution of voter education reached the community fairly timely in the
areas observed.

Parties and Campaigns

• Overall, the campaign was peaceful with few incidents reported. Our observers found that
NLD, KSSP and USDP were the most active parties during the campaign with posters, mass
media and rallies the most used methods to gather voter support.
• In their campaigns political parties mainly talked about social and economic issues. However,
little mention was made about political and environmental policies.
• Parties observed made little efforts to include women in their campaign event or to promote
issues of particular interest to women voters.
• A large number of parties in the areas observed considered that the preparation time for
party campaigns and selection of candidates and fund-raising activities was not
sufficient.
• Challenges faced by candidates and parties for campaigns include restriction on social
gathering and limited permission from local authorities due to covid-19 prevention
measures.
• Besides, insufficient financial support for ethnic parties for campaigns is found to be a
challenge as well in the areas observed. Ethnic parties are not satisfied with the support
of the people in their own local communities in the areas observed. The representation
of ethnic minorities in the political parties is very high.
• Women’s interest in party campaigns is highlighted.
• Incentives and in-kind supports were found to be given to people to join campaigns.
Foreign donations for party campaigns were not heard or observed.
• The transparency of campaign finance is very low. Fights between parties are rarely
seen. Violence against election officials was never heard or witnessed.
 • There was little per centage, almost insignificant, complaint about the
allocation or location of polling stations in the areas preserved. Campaign
events were found to be accessible to PWDs.

Human Rights (IDPs, Women, People with Disabilities (PWDs))

• The rights to voter education and voting rights for IDPs was observed.
• Although women participated in the majority of local election commission
members observed, most parties do not address the concerns and issues women
have. However, there were campaigns that encourage women to vote in the areas
observed.
• Education materials regarding voter education and voting process were somehow
not accessible to people with disabilities although a small percentage reported to
be so.

Security

• The election environment was peaceful, and a sense of security was present. No
incident was found where armed organizations tried to undermine the election
process in the areas observed.

Electoral Dispute Resolution

• No complaint was heard or witnessed about any election commissions or election

process. Only one case was heard that the supporters of a political party was not
satisfied with the election dispute resolution.

3. Recommendations

• We recommend that all voters participate in elections taking Covid-19 precautions strictly in
polling stations and when queueing.
• We ask the UEC to make sure polling station materials including health kits arrive to all polling
stations on time.
• We call on all election stakeholders to promote the free participation of all voters and to
promote, in particular, the equal participation of women voters.
• In particular, we call on all stakeholders to abstain from using hate speech and to actively
contribute to a peaceful environment on election day and after.
• We recommend that the UEC ensure that all accredited observers have meaningful access to
polling stations and there is transparency on election day.

• We highly recommend that voter education programs meet and address the needs of voters
in rural areas.

• We recommend that more personnel and materials as well as training for members of
township election sub-commission are to be provided.