Voters are turning out today to choose a new mayor for the Ratchaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) at 1,149 polling booths.
The contest is between Vivat Nitikanchana, a former PAO mayor, who has won several times before, and a newcomer from the People’s party, Chairat Sak-Issarapong.
Since Vivat is backed by the Pheu Thai party, this election is also being seen as a direct showdown between the governing Pheu Thai and the opposition People’s party, with latter trying to get a political foothold in turf traditionally dominated by an ally of the Pheu Thai party.
Election Commission (EC) Chairman Itthiporn Boonpracong inspected the three polling booths this morning, at the Benjamarachuthit Ratchaburi School in Mueang district, to ensure everything was ready for voters at 8am. The polls will close at 5pm.
There are 688,532 eligible voters in the province and voter turnout in 2020 was 68.15%.
Itthiporn urged all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote and to bring their ID cards with them. He said that voters whose ID cards have expired can have them renewed at their respective district offices today as a special case.
The EC chairman also encouraged voters to inform election officials should they came across any electoral irregularities, such as vote buying. The EC has set aside a one million baht reward for people who provide such information to election officials.
He expects unofficial results to be available at about 8pm this evening.
