Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a country located in Southeast Asia. It has a complex political history and has experienced significant political changes in recent years. Here is some information about the election system in Myanmar as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021:
- President and Government: Myanmar operates as a parliamentary republic. The President is the head of state and government, and is elected by the members of the Union Parliament, which consists of the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the House of Nationalities (Upper House). The President serves as the head of the executive branch.
- Union Parliament: The Union Parliament is the highest legislative body in Myanmar. It is a bicameral parliament consisting of the House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw) and the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw). Members of both houses are elected through general elections.
- House of Representatives: It has 440 seats, with members elected through a first-past-the-post system. Each representative serves a term of five years.
- House of Nationalities: It has 224 seats, with members elected through an indirect voting system. Members are elected by representatives from various regions and states of Myanmar.
- Electoral System: Myanmar uses a mixed electoral system for its general elections. The majority of seats in the House of Representatives are elected through a first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the highest number of votes in each constituency wins. A smaller portion of seats are allocated through proportional representation, based on the overall party list vote.
- Voter Eligibility: Myanmar citizens who are at least 18 years old have the right to vote in elections. Voter registration is required, and eligible voters must be included in the electoral roll to participate.
- Political Parties: Myanmar has a multi-party system, with numerous political parties participating in elections. Some of the major political parties in Myanmar include the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and the ethnic-based parties such as the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and the Arakan National Party (ANP).
