The first of three phases of voting has finished in Myanmar, in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, leaders jailed and as much as half the country not expected to vote due to an ongoing civil war.
The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after it seized power in a coup, prompting widespread opposition and spiralling into civil war.
Observers say the junta, with China's support, is seeking to legitimise its power as it seeks a way out of the devastating stalemate.
More than 200 people have been charged for disrupting or opposing the polls under a new law which carries severe punishments, including the death penalty.
Reports of explosions and airstrikes surfaced across multiple regions during the voting process, including a rocket attack that injured three individuals in the Mandalay region and a series of explosions damaging homes and resulting in fatalities in Myawaddy township.
Some voters described the election as more disciplined and systematic than before, with one first-time voter highlighting a sense of responsibility in participating despite the surrounding chaos.
Despite ongoing criticism, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing asserted that the elections would be free and fair while claiming they aim to return the country to a multi-party democratic system. However, many prominent figures have already faced legal repercussions for their opposition to the military's electoral efforts.
International reactions have been primarily negative, with calls to reject the election as a legitimate democratic process. UN officials have labeled it a mere theatre of the absurd as the military continues to wage violent campaigns against civilians.
The voting is set to occur in three phases, with significant portions of the country deemed too unstable for a fair electoral process. As the situation unfolds, expectations of turnout and electoral integrity remain highly uncertain amid ongoing armed conflict and governmental repression.
