Bangkok: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has announced its full preparedness for the general election and referendum, projecting a voter turnout of 80-90 percent.
According to Thai News Agency, the ECT has identified preliminary evidence of five potential breaches of election laws.
Mr. Narong Klanwarin, Chairman of the Election Commission, personally observed the voting process and cast his vote at polling station 12 in the Khlong Chan Subdistrict of Bang Kapi District. He reported that the nationwide readiness for the general election and referendum is at a complete 100 percent, attributing this to extensive preparations. Mr. Klanwarin noted that no irregularities had been detected since the start of voting and expressed confidence that voters would not make incorrect markings, thanks to clear instructions provided at each polling station. He reiterated the Election Commission's commitment to facilitating a smooth election process, with hopes to surpass the previous election's 75 percent voter turnout.
Mr. Saeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, stated that nearly three hours into the voting process, operations across 90,000 polling stations have proceeded smoothly. He urged election officials to continue assisting the public until the polls close at 5:00 PM, thanking voters for their active participation. The voting process will be conducted in two stages, and election officials are available to answer any voter inquiries.
In terms of election law violations, initial evidence suggests incidents of vote buying in five cases: three in Surat Thani, and one each in Chiang Rai and Ratchaburi. The final determination of these cases will rely on the strength of the evidence, and the Election Commission is committed to ensuring fairness for all parties involved. Additionally, the Commission is reviewing instances where voters have publicly shared their voting choices to assess any legal implications, given that election confidentiality is a legal requirement.