Forced to Vote

About this episode

Nay Chi discusses the coercive nature of Myanmar's post-coup election process.

Episode #527: Nay Chi, a senior researcher with the Myanography project, describes Myanmar’s post-coup election as an exercise in coercion rather than public choice. Drawing on reports from community researchers across the country, she says most people were not interested in voting and did not believe the process would change anything. What moved them was pressure: warnings tied to conscription, threats at checkpoints, loudspeaker announcements, and the wider fear created by a military already known for violence. As Nay Chi puts it, “people are forced to vote,” a phrase that strips the election of any democratic pretense. That pressure took different forms depending on the place. Displaced families were told that relatives of military age could be taken if they did not vote. Government staff were steered toward military-aligned parties. Travelers were questioned about voter registration. Even where no direct order was given, people understood what refusal might invite. The point was not to persuade them politically, but to make participation feel safer than refusal. The structure of the election reinforced that logic. Candidates had to report campaign movements and materials in…

People in this episode

Guest: Nay Chi

Topics covered

• Myanmar politics
• elections
• coercion
• military influence
• public choice
• democracy
• community pressure

Keywords

• Myanmar
• election
• coercion
• military
• voting
• democracy
• public choice
• community pressure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Myanography project

Places: Myanmar, military

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