Workers put the finishing touches to polling stations ahead of Myanmar's historic by-elections on April 1st.<br/> <br />The ballot is only the third the country has held in half a century.<br/> <br />Residents in this Yangon township have high hopes the vote will mark a turning point for the long-isolated nation.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: AUNG KO SEIN, VOTER, SAYING (Burmese):<br/> <br />"The economy will develop and there will be advantages for the people."<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: KHIN AYE SHEIN, VOTER, SAYING (Burmese):<br/> <br />"There will be a lot of changes and the international community will open up Myanmar's economy."<br/> <br />There are 45 seats up for grabs in the Sunday's by-election.<br/> <br />The conduct of the ballot is crucial to the lifting of some international sanctions on Myanmar.<br/> <br />Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party has already alleged irregularities.<br/> <br />It's also accused the president of breaching his duty of impartiality by trying to influence the outcome.<br/> <br />Paul Chapman, Reuters
