Thai EC chief: Situation remains normal for Thailand's July 3 election

BANGKOK, July 2 (TNA) - Regarding overall developments in the lead-up to Thailand's new general election on Sunday, Apichart Sukhagganond, Chairman of the country's Election Commission (EC) says that the situation has remained normal in general.

Apichart told reporters that he and other Thai election authorities have visited several areas in the country and have not found any serious irregularity so far. Apichart insisted that local police, in conjunction with the EC's provincial authorities, have been watching out for possible vote-buying and violent incidents.

The Thai EC chair said, however, he was rather concerned that some political canvassers might spend money to buy votes on the eve of the election date; so police had been asked to patrol rural and urban communities across the country to prevent or crack down any wrongdoing.

In response to reports that floods have remained in some northern Thai areas, the Thai EC chief noted that polling units could be relocated from the flooded areas to allow local voters to cast their ballots. (TNA)