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.
There were reports of explosions and air strikes across multiple regions as the first round of voting took place on Sunday. A rocket attack on an uninhabited house in the Mandalay region in the early hours of the morning injured three people, the region's chief minister told the BBC.
Voters have reported a more disciplined and systematic voting experience than in previous polls, although many remain skeptical about the election's legitimacy.
The Burmese junta has rejected criticism of the polls, asserting that it aims to return [the country] to a multi-party democratic system. Meanwhile, significant violence has persisted, including prominent public figures being convicted for vocalizing opposition to the election process.
The international community, including UN officials, have condemned the elections as illegitimate given the ongoing violence, imprisonment of political leaders, and suppression of dissent.
Next phases of voting are scheduled for January 11 and 25, amidst ongoing conflict that has severely impacted the logistics of the electoral process.
