Myanmar is voting in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, many of their leaders jailed and as much as half the country not expected to vote because of an ongoing civil war.
The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after it seized power in a coup, which sparked widespread opposition and spiraled into a civil war.
Observers say the junta, with China's support, is seeking to legitimise and entrench its power as it seeks a way out of the devastating stalemate.
More than 200 people have been charged for disrupting or opposing the polls under a new law which carries severe punishments, including the death penalty.
Polling began on Sunday after reports of explosions in at least two regions of Myanmar.
Three people were taken to hospital following a rocket attack on an uninhabited house in the Mandalay region in the early hours of Sunday, the chief minister of the region confirmed to the BBC. One of those people is in a serious condition.
Separately, more than ten houses were damaged in the Myawaddy township, near the border with Thailand, following a series of explosions late on Saturday.
A local resident told the BBC that a child was killed in the attack, and three people were taken to hospital in an emergency condition.
Voters have told the BBC that the election feels more disciplined and systematic than those previously. I cast my ballot as someone who has tried their best for the country, one voter reported.
The Burmese junta has rejected criticism of the polls, maintaining that it aims to return [the country] to a multi-party democratic system. After casting his vote, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing insisted the election would be free and fair.
Film director Mike Tee, actor Kyaw Win Htut and comedian Ohn Daing were among the prominent figures convicted under the law against disrupting polls, facing seven-year jail terms for criticizing a promotional film for the elections.
The military continues to face significant backlash and logistical challenges, with parts of the country still under opposition control, complicating the election process as it prepares for results expected at the end of January.
