Record number of expat Thais vote in advance

General News - Saturday December 15, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Record number of expat Thais vote in advance

Turnout much higher than in past elections

MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

Almost 80% of Thai voters in 20 countries have cast their ballots in the advance voting, which ends tomorrow. The turnout is far higher than in the previous election in which only 30% of expatriate Thais voted in advance.

Election commissioner Prapan Naiyakowit yesterday said the commission has received confirmation from 20 countries that 78% of expat Thais who registered to vote outside the country had cast their ballots as of Dec 12.

They were among those living in 65 countries who registered to cast their ballots for advance voting scheduled between Dec 3 and tomorrow.

The turnout figures from another 45 countries was not available yesterday.

In some of the 20 countries, there was a 100% voter turnout, said Mr Prapan.

According to a report from the Foreign Ministry, a total of 5,863 voters who live in the 20 countries told the embassies of their intention to vote in advance. Of them, 4,608 voters, or 78.59%, actually went to the polls.

The commissioner said the high expat voter turnout showed people wanted to see democracy restored in the country.

The EC also expected a high advance voter turnout in Thailand as well. Advance voting in the country will take place today and tomorrow.

Mr Prapan dismissed the possibility of the Dec 23 general election being delayed for any reason. He maintained the commission would handle the election in a fair and neutral manner.

''We want to see all parties and conflicting groups take one step back and make the Dec 23 general election go ahead as planned. We must uphold unity above all else so the election will run smoothly and its outcome will be accepted. The EC assures that it will not take sides with any parties or candidates,'' he said.

He has asked poll officials to notify political parties that they must remove campaign posters in the compounds of voting venues for advance voting. Campaign activities and the sale of alcoholic drinks at voting venues were also banned.

EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn said surveys found that some people were still confused by the new voting method and the different sets of ballots for the party list and constituency elections.

The media has been asked to help educate the people about the new voting method, he said.

He expected the voter turnout would exceed 70% as targeted.

He denied allegations that the EC worked in neutral gear, saying all commissioners worked hard and staked their lives on the election in order to return democracy to the people.

Bangkok Post