The Election Commission (EC) had received 16 complaints by noon after Bangkok voters began casting their ballots from 8am on Sunday.
The Election Commission (EC) had received 16 complaints by noon after Bangkok voters began casting their ballots from 8am on Sunday.
The EC expects to announce the unofficial results by 9pm.
EC chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong showed up to cast his vote at Suan Bua School in Phya Thai district and said the commission had received 16 complaints about a smear campaign.
Separately, Bangkok governor candidate Wittaya Jangkobpattana called on the Administrative Court on Friday to postpone the election by a week, because he claimed some candidates had been given more media coverage than others.
Ittiporn said the court had not accepted the petition, so the election is being held as scheduled. He added that he expects a turnout of 70 per cent or more and said he hopes the weather will remain fine.
As for voters worried about Covid-19, he said the EC had taken prevention measures, though voters can carry their own pen. However, he pointed out that any pen used should be of blue ink because ballots marked with any other colour will be voided.
He added that each polling station should finish counting votes by 7pm and an unofficial result revealed by 9pm.
He went on to say that if there are no issues, the EC should announce the next Bangkok governor within seven days, but if it is contested then the decision will be made within 60 days.
Move Forward’s Bangkok governor candidate Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn arrived to vote at the polling station in Surao Bueng Nong Bon School, Prawet district, at 8.30 this morning.
Wiroj said he was happy to see so many people coming out to vote. He also reminded voters about the colours of the polling cards – brown for the governor election and pink for the council election.
He said he would follow the results at Move Forward’s Bangkok headquarters this afternoon.
Wiroj turned up to vote wearing a Liverpool football club shirt, explaining that his team were playing their last match of the Premier League season today. He apologised to voters who were fans of league leaders Manchester City, saying there were winners and losers in sport but he was desperate to win today. Liverpool are just one point behind City in the league.
Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt, meanwhile, arrived by bicycle to vote at Chamchan School in Watthana district just as the doors opened at 8am.
Chadchart said he felt relaxed but then a bit nervous at seeing so many people at the polling station.
He said his mother had called him and told him to do his best. The former transport minister explained he had ridden his bike at the start to register and was using it again to end the election.
He said he would follow the results at Stadium One in Pathumwan district from 6pm.
Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva braved the rain to vote in Bangkok on Sunday morning, urging voters to exercise their rights.
The ex-Democrat Party leader entered polling station No 1 in Sawasdee Witthaya School on Sukhumvit Soi 31 in Watthana district at 9am.
After casting his vote, Abhisit expressed worry that the rain in the morning could impact voter turnout. However, he was confident that Bangkokians were excited about the elections, and urged them to come out to vote for the sake of democracy and development in the city.
“I am a bit concerned because of the rain, but after the election campaign atmosphere and the media build-up, I hope a lot of people will come out to vote,” Abhisit said.
He also urged Bangkokians to study candidate numbers carefully when they vote to avoid mishaps in the polling booth.
Meanwhile, Abhisit’s cousin Suranand Vejjajiva, deputy leader of the Sang Anokhot Thai (Building Thailand’s Future) party, also voted at the station in Sawasdee Witthaya School. He was accompanied by his mother.
“Today is an important day. Although it is raining, I would like to ask people to help democracy progress [by coming out to vote],” Suranand said.
Bangkokians, including politicians, flocked to polling stations across the capital to vote for their governor and councillor candidates on Sunday.
This is the first time in nine years that people in Bangkok and Pattaya have had a say in who runs their cities, after elections were suspended following the 2014 military coup. By coincidence, Sunday also marked the eighth anniversary of the coup led by then-Army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Queues formed at many polling stations even before they opened this morning. Police were also deployed in polling areas to ensure safety.
Meanwhile, polling station officials were checking the body temperature of voters and providing them with hand-sanitising gel. Voters were also required to wear face masks and obey social distancing at the stations.
“The election is being conducted smoothly,” Election Commission secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, after casting his ballot at a polling station in Wang Thonglang district, said he was not excited about these elections. He also dismissed journalists’ queries as to whether he would follow the vote count for Palang Pracharath councillor candidates.
Meanwhile, Thai Sang Thai Party candidate Sita Divari voted at a polling station in Sai Mai district. He told press he had no worries as he had conducted political campaigns before, adding that all candidates were capable. He also looked forward to radical changes in the capital over the next four years.
Bangkokians could now feel hopeful that the skills of winning candidates would improve the capital, he said.
Independent candidate Sakoltee Phattiyakul cast his ballot in Chatuchak district, saying he was excited as this was a large election. He added that he would follow the results at the R56 building on Ratchadaphisek Road.
City Hall expects a record-breaking voter turnout of 70 per cent in the Bangkok governor and councillor elections on Sunday, with residents keen to have their say after nine years without city elections.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said 167,298 officials have been deployed to 6,817 polling stations across the capital, including security guards and health volunteers.
Meanwhile, election coordination centres and ballot storage facilities were ready, it added.
BMA said votes in the governor and council elections will be counted simultaneously.
Once the count is completed, officials will submit the results to Bangkok City Hall 2 in Din Daeng district for processing. Citizens and members of the media can follow the election results there, BMA said.
Press conferences to report the election results will be held periodically, it added.
Bangkok election commission chairman Somchai Surakarnkul said an online vote-counting system would be used for this election. The same system had worked well during the last Bangkok governor election in 2013, he added. The 2013 governor election saw a voter turnout of 63.98 per cent, the highest since the first election in 1975. Elections were suspended in 2014 following the military coup.
Polling station officials will also be on hand to help people – including the disabled and seniors – to cast votes, while special polling stations for Covid-positive or at-risk voters are available.
Somchai also asked voters to ensure that alcohol gel on their hands is dry before they mark the ballot paper, to avoid spoiling their vote. They should also refrain from photographing their ballots at polling stations.
Democrat Party candidate Chaithip Kamonphanthip won the Ratchaburi constituency 3 by-election by a landslide on Saturday.
As of 9pm, Chaithip had 51,743 votes, followed by Seree Ruam Thai Party’s Nattanan Nithiphonyangsanga (16,853 votes) and Samerphak Party’s Pinyo Silpsangwan (1,889 votes).
The by-election came after an April 7 Supreme Court ruling hit Palang Pracharath Party MP Pareena Kraikupt with a lifetime ban from politics for possessing state-owned land. Palang Pracharath did not field a candidate.
Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sreeon, also a Democrat, said Chaithip’s victory proved the public still has faith in the party.
He said MPs must respond to citizens’ needs and be ready to solve their problems.
“The party will stick with the policy that all candidates must stay close to citizens,” he said. “Meanwhile, we must have a clear policy and strategy to take care of people.”
Saying the by-election win had helped boost Democrat morale, Chalermchai thanked voters in Ratchaburi for the opportunity to represent them.
After the Election Commission approves the vote, the party would look at which committee Chaithip will be assigned to, he added.
Meanwhile Akkadej Wongpitakrot, Democrat MP for Ratchaburi’s constituency 4, said the party will work together to improve conditions in the province.
Chief government whip Nirote Sunthornlekha congratulated Chaithip and the Democrat Party for adding to the number of ruling coalition MPs.
Meanwhile, Democrat leader and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit thanked voters for choosing Chaithip, adding their vote of confidence had boosted Democrat determination to serve the people of Ratchaburi.
Less than 24 hours before Bangkokians start voting for their governor and city councillors, candidates took to the streets to meet and greet voters.
Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt, a front-runner in most opinion polls, called on eligible voters to turn out in great numbers so the winner has the mandate to “fight for the interest of Bangkokians”.
He was on a pick-up truck waving at passers-by as he was driven around the city.
“Vote for the person you trust and believe in. I want lots of voters to come out, so the elected person gets enough of a mandate to rise and fight for the interests of Bangkok residents,” Chadchart said.
Despite his comfortable lead in recent opinion surveys, the former transport minister said the final result is in the hands of Bangkokians.
As for scepticism regarding his political independence, Chadchart said that though he is a politician, he is not involved in any political disputes and is not affiliated with any political parties.
Critics allege that Chadchart, who was PM candidate for leading opposition party Pheu Thai in the 2019 general elections, has retained ties with the party.
Pheu Thai, which is not vying for the governor’s seat, sent off a campaign caravan to woo votes for candidates contesting for city councillor seats in all 50 districts of Bangkok. Participating in the procession were senior party leaders as well as Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the party’s chief adviser on participation and innovation.
Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin, is also serving as “head of the Pheu Thai family” – a position that was created for her when she joined the party in October last year.
“The Pheu Thai Party is ready to improve the lives of Bangkok residents,” she announced on Saturday.
Danuporn Punnakanta, Pheu Thai’s campaign chief, said all the party’s city council members would work with the elected governor to serve Bangkok residents to improve their well-being and finances.
“We ask for a chance to take care of Bangkokians,” he said.
Former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, meanwhile, said he was confident of retaining his seat, though he admitted that other candidates were also confident.
He reminded Bangkok voters that he was not a dreamer and always kept his word.
“You have to decide who you will vote for. Will you choose someone who is good at talking or someone who is good at doing?” Aswin asked.
Also a front-runner in recent opinion surveys, Aswin took to the streets on Saturday for a last-ditch effort to woo voters.
Sakoltee Phattiyakul, also an independent candidate, said on Saturday that he and his team would “turn Bangkok into a city of opportunities for everyone” if he is elected. He too was driven around the city in a pick-up truck to woo voters.
Meanwhile, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, chair of the Thai Sang Thai Party, led the final round of campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Sita Divari as well as city councillor candidates.
Sudarat said Thai Sang Thai is a “party for small people” like small-business owners, street vendors, farmers, taxi drivers and delivery men.
She promised that as governor, Sita would use the party’s policies in running the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
The new party’s campaign caravans were sent to different districts on Saturday.
In his last day of campaign, Democrat Party candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat reminded Bangkokians on Saturday to select “someone who takes care of their home”, not a politician.
“I would like to take care of this home and everyone in it as best as I can. That’s the duty of the Bangkok governor,” said Suchatvee, an engineering professor who served as president of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang before becoming a Democrat candidate last December.
He joined the party’s city councillor candidates on a caravan across the capital on the eve of the poll.
Separately, Move Forward Party’s Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn spent the last campaign day riding a pick-up truck around Bangkok and calling on voters to cast their ballot on Sunday.
“This is the first chance in nine years, and the election day happens to fall on May 22 – the day a military coup took place in 2014 and a band of thieves stole power from us,” the outspoken politician declared.
He was referring to the General Prayut Chan-o-cha-led coup that led to the creation of the National Council for Peace and Order, which then suspended Bangkok elections along with other local municipality polls. The last Bangkok election was held in March 2013.
Wiroj said his main policy platform is to turn Bangkok into a “city where everyone is equal”, adding that since his campaign began, he has been pointing to issues of inequality and injustice in the city.
Bangkok governor candidate Chadchart Sittipunt (No 8, independent) has over 200 policies to improve the city. They cover nine aspects of the capital, ranging from transport and public health to the economy, creative spaces and the environment.
The former transport minister also wants to make Bangkok a clean city. He started by running an eco-friendly campaign with recyclable banners that are thin enough not to block pavements.
“It is a different method that has never been used before and could influence the style of future campaigning,” said Chadchart. The recycled banners could be used for the next election, he added.
On May 22, Bangkok residents will exercise their right to vote for the Thai capital’s next governor and councillors. Here are some facts about these elections.
He also urged Bangkokians to study candidate numbers carefully when they vote to avoid mishaps in the polling booth.
Meanwhile, Abhisit’s cousin Suranand Vejjajiva, deputy leader of the Sang Anokhot Thai (Building Thailand’s Future) party, also voted at the station in Sawasdee Witthaya School. He was accompanied by his mother.
SootinClaimon.Com 