Advance vote venues changed in 16 districts

General news - Thursday December 13, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Advance vote venues changed in 16 districts

POST REPORTERS

The Election Commission's Bangkok office has announced the change of venues for advanced voting in 16 districts for fear the old venues may be too small. According to office director Chainarong Tienmongkol, the polling station for advanced voting in Kannayao district has been relocated from the district office to the parking lot of Fashion Island department store, while the venue in Din Daeng has been changed from the district office to the Thai-Japanese youth centre.

Also, the polling station in Thung Kru is now at its entrance instead of in front of the district office.

In Thon Buri, Bangkok Noi and Bang Na districts the venues have been moved from Wat Welurachin to the Welurachin youth centre's sports field, from the district office to Suwannaram Withayakom school, and from the district office to Sri-iam Anusorn school respectively.

The other venue changes are as follows: Bung Kum _ from in front of the district office to its parking lot; Phaya Thai _ from the district office to Bangkok's public disaster prevention and mitigation office; Min Buri _ from the district office to Min Buri school; Rat Burana _ from the district office to the Rama IX bridge youth centre; Lat Krabang _ from Phra Nakhon park to Wat Shangkharacha school;

Wang Thong Lang _ from the district office to Imperial World Lat Phrao department store's car park building; Watthana _ from the plaza zone at Liberty Plaza to Liberty Plaza building; Sathon _ from the district office to Phra Mae Maree Sathon school; Nong Chok _ from Prachakhom civil pavilion to the district office; Klong Sam Wa _ from the district office building to its car park.

Large numbers of eligible voters are expected to opt for advance voting scheduled for Dec 15 and 16, rather than wait for the election day on Dec 23. The government has declared Dec 24 a special holiday to encourage people to return to their home provinces to vote, but lots of people are likely to take advantage of the long weekend to make holiday trips instead.

Around 2.09 million people have registered to cast ballots in advance outside of their constituencies on Dec 15-16. However, those who have not registered may also opt for advance voting provided they do so in their own constituencies and at pre-determined polling stations.

Meanwhile, the majority of the 80,000 Thais registered to cast their votes overseas were expected to opt for advance voting which began on Dec 3 and continues until this Sunday, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat.

Sixteen out of 170 polling stations in 65 countries have already finished advance voting with an average 70% voter turnout, Mr Tharit said.

Embassies and consulates around the world would send the ballots back to Bangkok before Dec 20 for counting along with those cast in Thailand, said the spokesman.

Bangkok Post