Early birds brave water fights to cast Senate ballots
Voters in Udon Thani line up to cast ballots on the first day of advance voting for the Senate election yesterday. The main election will be held next Wednesday.
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It was not only Songkran celebrations that had people out on the streets yesterday, as enthusiastic voters rolled out to cast advance votes in the Senate election.
Ballot stations were crowded in Chiang Mai, Phang Nga, Narathiwat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Saraburi, Ratchaburi, Roi Et, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima and Uttaradit. Polling started at 8am and closed at 5pm. Election staff in Surat Thani and Sa Kaew had to ask the Election Commission (EC) for more ballot cards for today, fearing they would run out before the end of voting. Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya voted in Nonthaburi, saying next week he would be outside his constituency dealing with national security issues. People are becoming more confident about democracy so turnout increased at each election, he said, adding that he was not concerned about the positioning of the ballot booths, which caused controversy at the recent polls. Democrat Party senior adviser Chuan Leekpai cast his advance ballot in Trang yesterday, after hosting a Songkran ceremony. Chuan said people had taken the opportunity to vote as they visited relatives during Songkran, so they wouldn't have to return to their hometowns again next week. People in Chiang Mai descended on the province's municipal stadium en-masse for the opening of the election at 8am. Many said they worried the traffic would get bad later, while others just wanted to get it out of the way quickly. Supan Panthida, 40, said he didn't know all the candidates competing to represent Chiang Mai. He knew a few, because they were either famous or had given him their introduction handouts. Supan said he thought the EC had done a good job encouraging people to vote. People in Phuket's Muang district preferred to vote gradually throughout the day, but in Kathu and Thalang districts not many people showed up at all. Ratchaburi provincial EC chairman Chalard Wongprasert said people might not have been so eager because the Senate election involved less politicking than a House election. But he said the Senate election had been promoted over a longer period and he expected fewer invalid ballots and abstentions. Quite a lot of Pattani natives cast their votes under the watchful eyes of volunteer security staff and military officials. Long queues formed from early in the morning. There was a long wait for many as their names had been struck from the register. Election staff were sent scurrying to check names in a bid to confirm people's right to vote. Many voters in Udon Thani turned out to cast their ballots soaked to the bone and threw themselves straight back into water-fights after voting. But many voters in Muang district were left furious and mired in traffic chaos because the provincial EC office had moved the polling booths from their usual location but obviously didn't tell enough people. Today is the last day of the advance voting.
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