Some 41 recruits were undergoing lessons at the local police station on Monday - one for each polling station in the township. They have been kitted out with police uniforms, but with "spe - cial election police" red epaulettes on their shoulders.
Last month's announcement that a special force would be created followed a joint atatement from countries including the US and Japan expressing alarm that rising religious tensions could spark conflict around the elections.
The country has been shaken by sporadic outbursts of often deadly religious unrest since 2012, with minority Muslims facing increasing political exclusion as the influence of nationalist Buddhist monks grows.
The special police will be unarmed and wield fewer powers than official police, according to officials. They will be paid around $ 140 ( Bt4,900 ), the same monthly salary regular officers receive.
Use of civilians by Myanmar authorities as part of crackdowns has a long and controversial history in a nation where the military brutally suppressed dissent during its nearly 50 year rule. Most recently men believed to be deputised civilians in plain clothes with red armbands were seen beating protesters alongside police at a student protest in March.