Ahead of the vote, state TV broadcast a video showing two women singing a pop-style song with the lyrics: "Let's go vote .... with sincere thoughts for happy days."

But in a country where the last election was held 18 years ago -- with the results rejected by the junta -- many people had no idea how to vote.

Some asked each other or officials, "Where do I go?" or "What do I do?" as they walked into curtained booths to cast their ballots.

Aye Aye Mar, a 36-year-old housewife, looked frightened when asked if she thought anyone would vote "no."

After her eyes darted around to see if anyone was watching, she whispered, "One vote of 'no' will not make a difference." Then she raised her voice. "I'm saying 'yes' to the constitution."

Min Lwin, 40, made it clear he did not believe his vote counted.

"What choice do I have?" he said, before quickly walking away.

Polling stations closed at 4 p.m., though voting was extended slightly where lines of people were still waiting.

Nyo Aye, a 65-year old retired soldier, said he marked "yes" on his ballot at a polling station in Hlegu, a town 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Yangon.

"I haven't read the constitution, but the government would not do anything inappropriate or bad for the country," he said.

Some 27 million of the country's 57 million people were eligible to vote.

Anti-government groups and human rights organizations, which say the charter is designed to perpetuate military rule, have bitterly accused the government of neglecting cyclone victims to advance its political agenda by pushing through the referendum.

There are estimates that more than 1 million people may have been affected by the cyclone, with many of them losing their homes.

The junta has so far allowed in only material assistance and has rejected the large-scale presence of foreign relief workers who have capabilities which Myanmar lacks to cope with the disaster.

Groups that led last year's pro-democracy demonstrations urged people to mark their ballots with an "X," which has become a symbol of opposition. Activists, under the cover of darkness, have scrawled and spray-painted Xs in public places in Myanmar's cities.

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