Myanmar’s 2015 General Elections: Structure, Process, and Issues

The second general elections since the beginning of Myanmar’s political transformation toward a multiparty democracy will take place on November 8. This year’s election will comprise all opposition parties and domestic and international expectations are high. Due to the complex electoral system and the large number of parties taking part, scenarios regarding the outcome are difficult to predict. Yet, during this new chapter in Myanmar’s reform process, the government has the opportunity to demonstrate that it can stage free and fair legislative elections. Most observers, however, will regard the presidential nominations in early 2016 as the stepping-stone for future progress. This paper outlines the basic structures and procedures of the election, how they relate to the current governance system, and what the key issues of concern might be.