webfact Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Advance polls draw thousands despite heat By The Nation Several thousand voters flocked to polling booths across the country on Sunday to cast ballots in advance of next Sunday’s general election, the first in eight years. The Election Commission organised advance voting for March 17 to facilitate citizens unable to participate next weekend. Despite summertime temperatures, the advance voters queued in the sunshine at many of the 395 polling stations nationwide. In Bangkok’s Dusit district, several hundred enlisted soldiers were among those queuing at a polling station at Sukhothai School. Assigned to security duties on Election Day next weekend, they were making their choices early. Traffic was more congested than usual in several areas of Bangkok as citizens left their homes to vote. Advance polling runs from 8am to 5pm at the 395 designated stations. More than 2.6 million of 51 million eligible voters have registered to vote outside their home constituencies. Those who registered for early voting but fail to turn up will be ineligible to vote on Election Day. Advance ballots will be sorted in Bangkok and within two days be sent to the voters’ home constituencies to be tabulated along with ballots cast on March 24. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30365959 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 75 percent turnout in active, trouble-free early voting The Election Commission (EC) described today’s early voting as smooth and trouble-free, with 75% of the two million registered early voters casting ballots ahead of the general election next Sunday. Speaking after polling stations closed, EC deputy secretary-general Mr. Nath Laoseesaovakul said that there was only one incident in the western province of Uthai Thani where one early voter was caught using another person’s ID card to vote. The man was taken into custody by police for questioning. Regarding complaints from some voters that they were given the incorrect ballot form, Mr. Nath explained that, if a voter sees that their ballot paper is incorrect, they should simply tell officials at the polling station and they will be given the correct ballot and the incorrect one will be destroyed. However, if the incorrect ballot has already been inserted into the ballot box, the ballot would be regarded as valid. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/75-percent-turnout-in-active-trouble-free-early-voting/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-03-18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Military should not be in uniform when they vote in public. There should be a separation of military from politics and not have soldiers march step in groups into a voting venue. Furthermore, with junta-leader General Prayut's candidacy the military uniforms are in effect walking political promotions of General Prayut for PM. The EC should immediately begin an investigation of such "irregularities" and temporarily suspend candidate Prayut and his political party from the election, ie., over the next six months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkfish Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 "Regarding complaints from some voters that they were given the incorrect ballot form, Mr. Nath explained that, if a voter sees that their ballot paper is incorrect, they should simply tell officials at the polling station and they will be given the correct ballot and the incorrect one will be destroyed. However, if the incorrect ballot has already been inserted into the ballot box, the ballot would be regarded as valid." What do they mean given the wrong ballot paper? How is it possible and who's giving out wrong ballot papers? What a sham! At this point the election should be called off. Mrs told me there was no NO vote on her ballot was she given the wrong one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 1 hour ago, Srikcir said: Military should not be in uniform when they vote in public. There should be a separation of military from politics and not have soldiers march step in groups into a voting venue. Furthermore, with junta-leader General Prayut's candidacy the military uniforms are in effect walking political promotions of General Prayut for PM. The EC should immediately begin an investigation of such "irregularities" and temporarily suspend candidate Prayut and his political party from the election, ie., over the next six months. A further thought regarding military troops in uniform voting at the polls. Did they all arrive individually by personal conveyance or in military troop transports? If the latter, that may be a further "irregularity." The military is financed by the Thai Treasury through government budget appropriations. Thus, the use of military vehicles to take soldiers to the polls is being provided for by a government headed by the junta who has a PM candidate running for election. Historically, the EC has investigation such use of public funds for political purposes and punished government leaders by essentially violating election campaign laws. In the instant case if government transports are used solely to take soldiers to the exclusion of civilians to the voting polls. Such would seem to be another possible election violation. If the EC is to maintain the appearance of neutrality in the election, it needs to investigate the legality of military troop presence at the polls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonclark Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 17 minutes ago, Srikcir said: A further thought regarding military troops in uniform voting at the polls. Did they all arrive individually by personal conveyance or in military troop transports? If the latter, that may be a further "irregularity." The military is financed by the Thai Treasury through government budget appropriations. Thus, the use of military vehicles to take soldiers to the polls is being provided for by a government headed by the junta who has a PM candidate running for election. Historically, the EC has investigation such use of public funds for political purposes and punished government leaders by essentially violating election campaign laws. In the instant case if government transports are used solely to take soldiers to the exclusion of civilians to the voting polls. Such would seem to be another possible election violation. If the EC is to maintain the appearance of neutrality in the election, it needs to investigate the legality of military troop presence at the polls. Well they could all just vote in the barracks at separate polling booths - But that might also be considered a bot suspicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Certainly plenty of grumbling and photos of sharp practices being vented on the Thai language social media. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickstav Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 How many different ballots are there that there could be correct ones and incorrect ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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