[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"core\/picturefill,entity_embed\/caption,views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__282934__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"282934","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/282934","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__282934__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_reI-6YIYy-k9pvxm-gaCRrn5cSrTZRtyAMrp4YXDUJw.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_VkK39bvB4H6LLVemwPFz8QWcUMTFqZ3FFo_LBVv_4vs.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__282934__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__282934__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022docs-internal-guid-d03ac85d-ca0e-281a-2f71-5d499f186b2f\u0022\u003E(Mandalay) -\u00a0With the elections one week away, would-be voters milling around downtown Rangoon and Mandalay have had the chance to cast an early vote: watermelon, apple, or banana. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/26429\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2015\/fruitvote.jpg?itok=DKAyVfrJ 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2015\/fruitvote.jpg?itok=sc2xsrHj 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2015\/fruitvote.jpg?itok=sc2xsrHj\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022638\u0022 alt=\u0022A poster illustrating valid and invalid voting methods at a voter education booth. \u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EA poster illustrating valid and invalid voting methods at a voter education booth in Burma.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2015 Human Rights Watch\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022docs-internal-guid-d03ac85d-ca0e-281a-2f71-5d499f186b2f\u0022\u003EFor the first time, Burma\u2019s elections will call for voting to be done with a rubber stamp imprinted with a check-marked 3-by-3 grid and the letters \u201cUEC,\u201d for the Union Election Commission. Voter education booths and posters have flooded the area, with practice ballots on offer to help locals cast a vote for their favorite fruit.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022docs-internal-guid-d03ac85d-ca0e-281a-2f71-5d499f186b2f\u0022\u003EPolitical parties and community groups have bolstered their efforts to train voters in using the stamps, yet many are concerned about making the switch from box ticking. A volunteer for a Mandalay voter awareness group called the system \u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.mmtimes.com\/index.php\/national-news\/mandalay-upper-myanmar\/17092-activists-warn-of-confusion-over-voting.html\u0022\u003Etrouble\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201d after their activities revealed issues with misplacement, smudged ink, and vague stamping. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022docs-internal-guid-d03ac85d-ca0e-281a-2f71-5d499f186b2f\u0022\u003EU Aung Htut, chair of the Mandalay region election sub-commission, \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.mmtimes.com\/index.php\/national-news\/mandalay-upper-myanmar\/17185-no-second-chance-ballots-voters-warned.html\u0022\u003Ewarned voters\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E, \u201cYou have to rubber stamp carefully on the election day. Stamp only once. If you stamp twice, or if the ink is vague, it could be an uncounted vote\u2026 Your hand needs to be calm. If the stamp slips accidentally, it could also become an uncounted vote.\u201d He added that no additional ballot would be provided if an accident is made.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-left embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--left\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/26430\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2015\/votered2.jpg?itok=ONaTI5m4 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2015\/votered2.jpg?itok=nnM8xq0x 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2015\/votered2.jpg?itok=nnM8xq0x\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022850\u0022 alt=\u0022A woman walks by a voter education booth in downtown Rangoon. \u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EA woman walks by a voter education booth in downtown Rangoon.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2015 Human Rights Watch\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022docs-internal-guid-d03ac85d-ca0e-281a-2f71-5d499f186b2f\u0022\u003EThe NLD in particular has ramped up its outreach, making house calls in Chan Aye Thar San township in Mandalay to teach voters how to use the stamps. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022docs-internal-guid-d03ac85d-ca0e-281a-2f71-5d499f186b2f\u0022\u003EYet as the elections near, concerns about invalid votes and the broader, more critical issue of low voter awareness are elevated. Only about 10 percent of the country has been covered by voter awareness campaigns, \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.irrawaddy.org\/election\/news\/a-ferry-from-big-city-campaigns-dala-hints-at-polls-rural-dynamics\u0022\u003Eaccording\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E to a domestic voter education institute, and chiefly in urban areas, leaving broad swathes of the country\u2019s rural areas unreached. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022docs-internal-guid-d03ac85d-ca0e-281a-2f71-5d499f186b2f\u0022\u003EDespite long-term efforts by election educations groups, there have been significant barriers limiting the development of an informed voter bloc. In a 2014 \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/asiafoundation.org\/resources\/pdfs\/MM2014SurveySummaryReportENG.pdf\u0022\u003EAsia Foundation survey\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E, only 12 percent of respondents knew that the president is elected by parliament as opposed to directly by voters. 82 percent were unable to name one branch of government. Educating voters about the technical process they\u2019ll encounter on election day is important; yet more so is endeavoring to build a nationwide understanding of not just how to vote, but why.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]