13 | THE JUNTA’S TOP-DOWN ADOPTION OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES In early 2023, the junta announced its intention to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in its planned elections. A prototype of the so-called “Myanmar Electronic Voting Machine” (MEVM) was presented to Min Aung Hlaing by the UEC on 9 February. While neighboring countries India and Bangladesh have long used EVMs, this would be the first time that the technology is used in Myanmar. The UEC has justified the introduction of voting machines with lower costs of operation, faster results, and the elimination of voter fraud and spoiled or invalid ballots, thus perpetuating the narrative of election fraud in 2020. The UEC has said that the machines were developed and manufactured in Myanmar, but the MEVM prototypes displayed look very similar to EVMs used by the Election Commission of India. Furthermore, one of the two producers of EVMs for India is Bharat Electronics Limited, a state arms manufacturer with strong ties to the Tatmadaw, which claims to have exported electronic voting systems to numerous Asian and African countries. The UEC has also stated that 55,000 MEVMs would be produced, with 2,500 already delivered by July 2025 for demonstration and training purposes. While Myanmar’s military has the manufacturing capacity to assemble the machines, it still needs to supply thousands of components from abroad, such as the Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller boards on which they appear to be based. It is likely that components were sourced in whole or in part from India. The junta has not released any tenders or details on the procurement of EVM parts, contrary to Myanmar’s obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). 55