More than 1.1 million voters in Myanmar's western Rakhine state will be disenfranchised in upcoming national polls, according to data released by the election commission, a move experts warned could fuel yet more conflict.

Civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) is widely expected to be returned to power in the November 8 election - only the second since the country emerged from outright military rule.

On Friday the election commission said security reasons meant voting would not take place in areas with hundreds of thousands more people - including more than 800,000 in Rakhine.

Arakan Army (AA) militants are locked in battle with the military in Rakhine's northern fringes as they fight for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

The unrest has killed or injured hundreds and forced 150,000 from their homes since the civil war intensified in late 2018.

This week three NLD candidates were abducted by unknown gunmen in Rakhine.

In Friday's announcement, the election commission also said voting would be cancelled in various other areas across Myanmar, most notably in conflict-ridden Shan and Kachin states, but observers said this had largely been expected.

AFP