"Voters headed to polling stations in Yangon on Sunday as conflict-torn Myanmar held its first general elections in nearly five years since the military coup. Footage shows voters applying special ink to their little fingers before exercising their voting right. After the polling station had closed, workers could be seen engaged in counting the votes. Former Minister for Hotels and Tourism and People Pioneer Party (PPP) Chairperson Daw Thet Thet Khine also arrived to cast her ballot. "Voting is a citizen's right. It is also a citizen's responsibility. The main thing is to feel that I am fulfilling my duty as a citizen," she commented. The elections are the very first ones in the nation's history in which electronic voting machines are used. The measure is expected to prevent election fraud and spoilt ballots. "Voting with a machine is fast and easy," one of the voters, Thin Thin, said. "Voting is quick and easy and only takes a short time." As the country is currently in a state of civil conflict, for security reasons, the elections are run in three phases. During the first phase, polling stations were opened in 102 townships. The second and third phases are scheduled for January 11 and 25, respectively, as stations are expected to be set in 265 of the 330 townships in the country. 57 political parties would compete in the elections at the regional level, and six parties nationwide. The United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and UK condemned the process, citing its lack of legitimacy following the 2021 military coup. Several international organisations have called for the rejection of these elections over ongoing civil conflict, human rights abuses, and the suppression of political freedoms. Meanwhile, China, Russia, India and some other countries showed support for the Myanmar elections, sending election observers to the country."