Millions of Thais have completed their part of the democratic bargain in the general election, with the polls having just closed at 5pm.
It will now be a few anxious hours before the first unofficial results are declared in what is expected to be a close race.
Rain and slight confusion over the charter referendum voting alongside the election did not affect public enthusiasm and authorities believe that voter turnout was considerable. Overall, the voting went smoothly.
Observers did not rule out a single party achieving a landslide, but pre-election analyses suggest that it will have been a two-horse race, between the People’s party and Bhumjaithai, with Pheu Thai lurking and ready to assert itself into any coalition horse trading is there is no outright winner.
Many polling stations near military barracks instructed soldiers not to wear their uniforms when voting.
The electoral authorities also did away with the previous tradition of setting up voting booths inside military complexes.
These measures were intended to prevent any public perception of political bias on the military’s part.
One of the most-watched celebrity politicians casting ballots was Prayut Chan-o-cha, the coup-leader who later became prime minister and is now a Privy Councillor.
A few, relatively-minor complaints were filed with the Election Commission, such as difficulty in finding polling stations and polling officials incorrectly detaching ballots from the ballot books, raising the question of whether affected voters should vote again. In Nan province, an election official tore 69 ballot papers incorrectly in two districts.
The Nan election director has ordered the official to be replaced, while the Election Commission is expected to decide whether a new election will be required.
The mistake occurred when polling station officials tore constituency ballot papers along the fold line instead of the perforated line, as required by regulations.
Pradhan Prompao, director of elections for Nan province, said that he ordered the immediate replacement of the polling station officials responsible for tearing the ballots.
An investigation will also be conducted in accordance with election regulations. Pradhan said the decision whether to hold a new election rests with the central Election Commission.
In a separate incident, an 86-year-old voter accidentally tore one ballot while unfolding it before marking it.
The voter requested a replacement ballot, and officials inspected the incident and proceeded in accordance with election law.
