ID :
148033
Sat, 10/30/2010 - 12:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/148033
The shortlink copeid
Light voter turnout in early Surat Thani by-election
SURAT THANI, Oct 30 -- As expected earlier, not many eligible voters turned up at polling stations in the southern province of Surat Thani on Saturday’s by-election, due to sporadic rains in the province, provincial officials said.
Polling stations have been open since 8am and will close at 3pm but because of the sporadic rainfall only a few voters have exercised their rights within the first two hours after poll stations opened, they said.
A number of students taking the political development course of the Election Commission (EC) visited three polling stations in the province’s Constituency 1 where the by-election is being held as soon as they opened.
Manit Nop-amornbodi, a former deputy public health minister and now one of the students, said after observing the election taking place that he found the times displayed at each station were not the same as other election sites while the civil servants manning the stations did not appear to fully understand the election law.
Sumon Nongnual, Surat Thani’s Electoral Commission chief, told journalists that no complaints on irregularities have been made.
Mr Sumon said election officials were concerned about the ongoing rain which could prevent voters from leaving their home.
He said vote counting could take about two hours to complete after the polling stations were closed and the name of the winner could be announced.
EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond, also in Surat Thani to observe the by-election said he expected about 60 per cent of eligible voters would exercise their rights, and that marine police and helicopters are on standby to transport ballot boxes in case of heavy rain.
Only two contestants are running in the by-election – Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the ruling Democrat party, and Worawut Wichaidit of the opposition Puea Thai Party.
Mr Suthep resigned as deputy prime minister to contest the by-election.
The election is being held to choose a replacement for former Democrat MP Chumphon Kanchana who faced a five-year ban from politics for submitting a false assets statement. (MCOT online news)
Polling stations have been open since 8am and will close at 3pm but because of the sporadic rainfall only a few voters have exercised their rights within the first two hours after poll stations opened, they said.
A number of students taking the political development course of the Election Commission (EC) visited three polling stations in the province’s Constituency 1 where the by-election is being held as soon as they opened.
Manit Nop-amornbodi, a former deputy public health minister and now one of the students, said after observing the election taking place that he found the times displayed at each station were not the same as other election sites while the civil servants manning the stations did not appear to fully understand the election law.
Sumon Nongnual, Surat Thani’s Electoral Commission chief, told journalists that no complaints on irregularities have been made.
Mr Sumon said election officials were concerned about the ongoing rain which could prevent voters from leaving their home.
He said vote counting could take about two hours to complete after the polling stations were closed and the name of the winner could be announced.
EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond, also in Surat Thani to observe the by-election said he expected about 60 per cent of eligible voters would exercise their rights, and that marine police and helicopters are on standby to transport ballot boxes in case of heavy rain.
Only two contestants are running in the by-election – Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the ruling Democrat party, and Worawut Wichaidit of the opposition Puea Thai Party.
Mr Suthep resigned as deputy prime minister to contest the by-election.
The election is being held to choose a replacement for former Democrat MP Chumphon Kanchana who faced a five-year ban from politics for submitting a false assets statement. (MCOT online news)
