DHAKA: Myanmar’s parliament was voting on Thursday on whether to change two of the most contested provisions of the country’s military-drafted constitution, using a rarely employed balloting system lawmakers said could make the result closer.

Lawmakers have been debating since Tuesday proposed changes to the 2008 constitution that would weaken the military’s control over the legislature.

Officials inside parliament in Naypyitaw had set up ballot boxes, according to a media witness, preparing for votes to be cast by paper ballot.

A senior official from parliament said that the system had not been used since the 2011 presidential election, reports The Straits Times.

Lawmakers generally vote electronically or by standing to show that they are in favor of a particular motion, neither of which are secret.

The decision on how votes are cast is decided by the speaker of parliament.

BDST: 1522 HRS, JUN 25, 2015
RR