People look for their names on the voting list next to a poster how to vote at a polling station in Yangon on Saturday. (AP photo)YANGON - Voting is underway in 19 by-elections in Myanmar, in the first test of the popularity of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy since it formed the government a year ago. Nine of the contested seats are in the Lower House, three are in the Upper House and the rest are in state and regional assemblies in ethnic minority areas. Some seats became vacant because the lawmakers were promoted to the Cabinet; some because of deaths and others were never filled in the 2015 general election after security concerns in the area forced the cancellation of voting. The contests on Saturday have not caused the same excitement or engagement as seen at the 2015 general election, and turnout is expected to be low.

Source: Bangkok Post April 01, 2017 05:03 UTC