Voter confusion and low participation marked advance voting in Taunggyi Township, where the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured an overwhelming victory amid widespread reports of public uncertainty and disengagement.

On December 28, the first phase of the military commission’s election was held in 12 townships across Shan State, including six in Southern Shan State: Taunggyi, Hopong, Pangtara (Pindaya), Namsang, Lang Kho (Langkhur), and Loilem. Despite the scale of the operation, residents in Taunggyi reported little public enthusiasm and widespread confusion about the voting process.

In Ayetharyar Sub-township, residents said many voters—particularly elderly villagers—were unclear about how to vote or which parties were contesting. As a result, many cast their ballots for the USDP simply because it was the only party name they recognized.

“People in the villages don’t really understand the voting process,” a resident told SHAN. “Many aunties and uncles just pressed the USDP button because they didn’t know the others. They said, ‘We only know this one.’”

Turnout was noticeably lower than in previous elections. According to residents, some polling stations recorded only 50 to 60 voters throughout the day, a sharp contrast to past elections when crowds gathered from early morning.

Taunggyi Township has a total of 190 polling stations across 51 wards and 24 village tracts. However, advance voting results released on December 26 showed an overwhelming dominance by the USDP across all parliamentary levels.

In the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), the USDP received 2,344 votes, while the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP, also known as the White Tiger Party) received 11 votes, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) received 14 votes, and the People’s Party (PPP) received just four votes.

In the Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) race, the USDP secured 1,336 votes, compared with 33 for the PNO, 11 for the White Tiger Party, and four for the PPP.

The pattern continued in the Shan State Hluttaw, where the USDP garnered 2,320 votes, far surpassing the PNO (14 votes), the White Tiger Party (11 votes), and the PPP (six votes).

Residents said the outcome reflected not political enthusiasm but confusion, pressure, and a lack of meaningful choice. The advance voting results further underscored growing concerns that the military-run election lacks genuine public participation and legitimacy.