The agency is working to expand such facilities to cover areas in provinces other than Bangkok and its surrounds, said EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn on Thursday.

He spoke at a seminar on improvements to election venues for the disabled and the elderly in preparation for the national election, expected to take place next year.

The EC is conducting a survey that includes the needs of the disabled and the elderly in the provinces, he said.

Somchai said the agency had included the issue in the new organic law draft on the election of MPs.

Asian Network for Free Elections representative Pongsak Chanon praised Thailand as a role model for initiating the process but said the country could do better.

“In many countries like Thailand, one of the persisting issues is that the law limits the rights of these people,” Pongsak said. “Thai law does not allow people with mental deficiency to exercise their electoral right.”

He said there were debates concerning such a limitation as there was not as clear definition for the mentally challenged. Those who are capable of learning should have a chance to vote, he added.

In Japan, Pongsak said the mentally challenged under family care were entitled to vote.

In other countries, polling stations are placed in prisons, hospitals or department stores, he said.

A representative of people with special needs shared his experiences at the seminar, saying in the past polling venues in Thailand did not have sufficient facilities for this group. Although the booths were at street level, often people in wheelchairs could not access them because on the poor condition of footpaths.