Thailand: early voters' turnout reaches 75 percent
An average of 75 percent voter turnout was reported in the March 17 early voting for the general election in Thailand, according to an official from the country’s Election Commission (EC).
An early voter casts her ballot in Samut Prakan on March 17 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - An average of 75 percent voter turnout was reportedin the March 17 early voting for the general election in Thailand, according toan official from the country’s Election Commission (EC).
Ofa total of 2.63 million Thais who had registered for early voting, over 75percent reportedly cast their ballots on March 17, one week earlier than the officialelection date on March 24, confirmed EC Deputy Secretary General NatLaosisavakul.
Bangkok'sconstituency with the largest number of registered early voters was in BangKapi district, where up to 82 percent of those registered cast their ballots, Nat said.
In Chiang Mai, up to 95 percent of some 47,000 registered early voters went tothe polls.
Accordingto the EC’s deputy secretary general, those who had registered as early votersbut failed to cast their early votes on March 17 are not allowed by law to doso on the election day of March 24.
There are some 51.4 million eligible voters, about 7.3 million of whom beingfirst-time voters. The polling agency has anticipated that no less than 80percent of voters will cast their ballots on March 24.-VNA
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An early voter casts her ballot in Samut Prakan on March 17 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
