Bangkok: Opening the ballot boxes for the Provincial Administrative Organization elections for the first half of the day, the overall picture is in order. The EC Secretary-General announced that the opening of the provincial administrative organization ballot boxes this morning was overall smooth. He invited the public to exercise their rights until 5:00 p.m. He asked private companies and employers to facilitate their employees to vote. He emphasized that taking pictures of the ballots that had been cast was prohibited, as there could be criminal charges. He confirmed that there was no illegal activity on the night of the howling dog.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Saeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, announced the overall picture of the opening of the polling stations for the president of the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) and members of the Provincial Administrative Organization Council nationwide, stating that today is another important day for Thai people, where they will be able to express their rights and power. The PAO is the largest form of local government, which affects the quality of life of people in every area. From 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., two hours later, the opening of all 90,715 polling stations has been smooth. Voting has been smooth so far, with approximately 1,000,000 polling station committee members, or PAOs, ready to facilitate the 47 million eligible voters who will be casting their votes from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The EC Secretary-General also stated that 29 provinces will have elections for only Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) councils, with eligible voters receiving only one ballot, and 47 provinces will have elections for both PAO presidents and PAO councils, with eligible voters receiving two ballots. The color of the ballot papers in each region will be different, and voters are asked to bring their national ID card or a card issued by a government agency with their national ID number and photo to verify their identity. Those who do not have a card can apply for a new card at the district registration office or local registration office, which are open for special operations to facilitate the process. They are also asked to study the voting procedures and candidates thoroughly, and would like to thank all officials involved in today's election.
The EC Secretary-General emphasized that in today's provincial administrative organization election, candidates are no longer allowed to campaign. Violators will face criminal penalties, including revocation of their voting rights. Anyone who does not have the right to vote but votes or uses a fake ballot or takes the ballot out of the polling station or intentionally makes any mark on the ballot other than to vote or does not wish to vote is also prohibited from taking photos of the ballot to show the ballot, disclosing or publishing the results of opinion surveys, and tearing up the ballot. All of these are things to be aware of because they are criminal offenses and may also result in the revocation of their voting rights.
The EC Secretary-General also asked for cooperation from private sector entrepreneurs to facilitate and support employees who have the right to vote to cast their votes as much as possible. If employers delay or do not facilitate subordinates, they will be subject to criminal penalties as well. As far as he knows, there are many companies that allow employees to go out and live their lives before coming to work.
Therefore, we would like to invite those who have the right to vote for the Provincial Administrative Organization this time to exercise their right to vote in order to determine their own quality of life, to choose candidates who will take care of their quality of life and their children. Take a little time, it won't take long to come out and exercise your right to vote for the Provincial Administrative Organization today.
Regarding the situation on the last night of the Howling Dog Night, the EC Secretary-General confirmed that the EC Office has measures to prevent and deter, including news reports from many areas and setting up checkpoints and inspection points to pressure and deter, including checking CCTV footage from hotels and restaurants to check if there were any wrongdoings. He also received reports from news centers nationwide that no actions went beyond the law.
When asked about the case in which the father of a candidate for the Phichit Provincial Administrative Organization stated that his son had been abducted, the EC Secretary-General stated that he did not yet know the details because if there had been a real abduction, there would have been a report from the local news. He also revealed that a candidate for the mayor of a provincial administrative organization traveled abroad today but had already reported the reason for not exercising his right to vote, so he would not lose his right.