Election Commission Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee urged eligible voters to go to the polls today and exercise their right to vote in Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) mayoral and councillor elections.
The elections for both are being held in 47 provinces while, in the remaining 29 provinces, only elections of councillors are being held. About 47 million people are eligible to vote and about one million officials and assistants have been deployed at 90,715 polling stations throughout the country to ensure peace and order and to help voters.
Sawaeng also urged employers to allow their employees to go to the polls, warning that they may face legal action if they prevent them from doing so without good reason.
He reminded voters to take their ID cards with them. If they do not have one they can apply for an ID card at the district offices where they have their domicile by providing other official documents to prove their identity.
He also warned candidates not to campaign today or face legal action and they may lose their voting rights on conviction.
Voting started at 8am and will end at 5pm.
Sawaeng said that, last night, election officials inspectedhotels and restaurants, where there were reports of suspected vote buying activities.
People who are interested in the election results can access the EC’s website at www.ect.go.,th or use the ‘Smart Vote’ application to keep up to date with the counts and unofficial poll results.
