Thailand’s election: about 2.1 million voters register to vote in advance

Thailand’s election: about 2.1 million voters register to vote in advance (Photo: https:asianews.network)

Bangkok (VNA) - About 2.1 million eligible Thai voters, including 111,069 living abroad, have registered to cast their ballots in advance on May 7, one week ahead of the general election in Thailand on May 14.

Election Commission (EC) Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee said 2,153,450 Thais registered between March 25 and April 9 to vote in advance, adding, however, that the actual number may be higher, because online registration ended at midnight on April 9 and there are a number of registrations by mail which are yet to arrive at the EC’s registration office.

He cited some of the problems encountered by advance voters, for example some were not able to check whether their registration was recorded after having completed the registration form, or many had to spend several hours to complete the registration process.

Many advance voters have tweeted or posted hashtags complaining about their failure to register and urging the EC to extend the midnight deadline.

The Foreign Ministry’s Consular Affairs Department has set up a situation room to coordinate with the EC, the Ministry of Interior, Thailand Post and 94 Thai consular offices and embassies abroad, to ensure smooth vote casting abroad, using the OVMS web application./.