YANGON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Before dawn broke over downtown Yangon on Sunday, election officials were already preparing inside a polling station near City Hall. Myanmar kicked off its first phase of the national multi-party general election on the day, marking the country's first-ever use of an electronic voting system.

At 6 a.m., voting officially began. Voters entered the polling stations, where they proceeded through security checks, identity verification and signing procedures before casting their ballots for the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House) and State and Region Hluttaws (State and Region Parliaments).

Some voters remarked that the process of voting using electronic devices was simpler than they had expected.

Swe Maw, a 45-year-old tea shop owner, described the election as a moment he had long awaited.

"I am very happy to cast votes for the people who will shape the future of the country," he said.

He added that the electronic voting system made the process straightforward and expressed confidence in the outcome. "For the future of Myanmar, I have hope and no worry. I believe the people we elect will do their best for the country."

Unlike previous elections, Myanmar has introduced the Mixed-Member Proportional system, which combines First-Past-the-Post and Proportional Representation.

For many citizens, the election carried deep personal meaning. Than Tun Oo, a 59-year-old station master with Myanma Railways from Yangon's Botahtaung township, said he voted to fulfill his duty as a citizen. "The election is important because the new government will be formed with the wishes of the majority of the people."

Having voted in every election since 1990, he described his neighborhood as safe and expressed cautious hope for the future. "People here have experienced both good and bad times," he said. "For the future, I just hope it will be good."

In the capital Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's Acting President Min Aung Hlaing also cast his vote.

At 4 p.m., an election official at a polling station in Yangon's Kyauktada township announced the closure of the polling station.

The general election is being held in three phases. The second phase is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2026, followed by the third phase on Jan. 25.

According to the Union Election Commission, 21,517 polling stations have been set up across the country, covering 692 constituencies nationwide. About 5,000 candidates from 57 political parties are competing for seats in the Union Parliament (Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw) and state and region parliaments. The newly formed Union Parliament will then elect a president, who will go on to form a new Union government.