Low voter turnout except in Buri Ram

Thawee Chunkoh, the election director of Buri Ram, said yesterday that the voter turnout was a new record. In previous elections never more than 2,000 people had cast their ballots in early voting in the northeastern province.

He admitted that due to a limited number of officials the process was slow, which led to complaints by angry voters who had to wait longer than expected.

The election official said many of the early voters were migrant workers spending their long New Year holiday in their home province.

Eligible voters in 26 constituencies in 22 provinces are allowed to cast their ballots in early voting yesterday and today.

However, only small numbers of voters turned out on the first day of early voting yesterday in other provinces, including Ang Thong, Lamphun, Lampang, Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok's Bang Bon constituency.