Advance general election voting for Thais living overseas is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Tuesday) at Thai embassies and consular offices, Election Commission (EC) Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee said today.
The advance overseas voting will last until May 5th, with each embassy and consular office deciding the days for voting during that period, but all the ballots cast must arrive in Thailand before Election Day on May 14th, he said.
He added that all the ballots cast will be sent to the Election Commission’s Office in Thailand, in diplomatic pouches or hand-carried by embassy officials, whereupon they will be distributed to the constituencies, to be counted with the other ballots cast on Election Day.
Sawaeng said that the EC has learned from the last election, regarding ballots from overseas, and has coordinated with Thai Airways International, the Airports Authority of Thailand and Thailand Post to rectify the problems and ensure that all the ballots cast are counted on May 14th.
He admitted, though, that there may be problems withadvance voting among Thais living in Sudan, where fierce fighting is ongoing between government and rebel forces.
Thais overseas can cast their ballots either at polling stations set up at convenient locations, by registered mail or cars will be sent to collect their ballots, depending on the situation in each country, said Sawaeng.
