YANGON, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The final phase of Myanmar's multi-party democratic general election began on Sunday morning, with polling stations opening in about 60 townships.

Voting started at 6 a.m. local time. The general election is being conducted in three phases. The first phase took place on Dec. 28 last year in 102 townships, followed by the second phase on Jan. 11 in 100 townships.

Following the conclusion of the first two phases of voting, the lists of elected representatives for the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), the Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House), and the Region and State Hluttaws (Region and State Parliaments) have been released in succession.

About 5,000 candidates from 57 political parties were contesting seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, the Amyotha Hluttaw, and the Region and State Hluttaws.

The election will decide the elected members of the Union Parliament (Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw) and State and Region Parliaments; the new Union Parliament will then elect a new president, who will form a new Union Government.

Myanmar's last general election was held in November 2020. ■