Many voters have turned up at polling stations across the country to cast their ballots in advance voting today (Sunday).
In Bangkok, voters showed up an hour or two before the 8am opening time, to avoid being caught up in traffic congestion and the hot weather, which will become unbearable towards midday.
At the Bang Sue district office, where more than 10,000 voters have registered to cast their ballots in advance, the 200m narrow lane which runs from the Rim Khlong Prapa Road to the district office was closed to traffic and crowded.
Motorcycle taxi drivers were doing a brisk business whisking voters to and from the district office.
Traffic and municipal police directed traffic at the lane’s junction with the main road, as they asked drivers to park their cars on one side of Rim Khlong Prapa Road or at the nearby Lotus department store, where there is ample parking space for up to three hours free of charge.
Phisamai Ruangsilp, director of the Bang Khen district office, said that they have mobilised about 600 staff members to help the about 35,000 people who have registered to vote in advance in the district.
In Chiang Mai province, advance voting is being held in ten constituencies, with Constituency 1 having 31,000 advance voters. Many voters here also showed up before 8am.
In the three restive southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, security is especially tight, as a precaution against potential violence from southern insurgents.
Saisunee Buakhao, director of a polling station in Pattani, said that voters are very enthusiastic about the election and he expects about a 90% turnout.
About 2.35 million voters have registered to vote in advance today nationwide.
