"CHANGES have been proposed to allow soldiers and their family members cast votes outside of military camps during elections in Myanmar. The proposal tabled by the Union Election Commission (UEC) would abolish military polling stations if passed by the Union Parliament, according to The Irrawaddy. The UEC sought polling stations to be set up outside military camps so that soldiers and their family members can cast votes with civilian voters. This aims to make the process more transparent as it allows for candidates, observers and party representatives to move freely and monitor at the polling stations. Concerns have been raised recently on election process in military camps, prompting the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) to oppose placing polling stations inside barracks ahead of the general election next year. Military spokesperson Major-General Tun Tun Nyi in response to the NLD’s objection had said members of the military and their families need to vote inside the barracks as they are busy to go outside. “We are on duty 24 hours per day. It is difficult for both military personnel and their family members to go vote outside,” he said in a military press conference in Naypyitaw last month. Since the 2010 general election, military personnel and their family members have voted in military compounds..."