March 3, 2008
Bangkok - 55.9% of Thai people cast their ballots yesterday while more than two million people cast no vote. Samut Songkram province was the first to submit the election results to the Election Commission.
Mr. Apichart Sukakkanont, chairman of the Election Commission (EC), yesterday announced the unofficial 55.9% turnout for the senatorial election. More than two million people or 8.1% cast no vote and there were 3.6% void ballots.
There were 505 senatorial candidates. But only 472 candidates were qualified.
Ballot papers identify the candidates only by numbers, not by names.
The EC got 40 complaints concerning the senatorial election. Senatorial election frauds can be informed at 1171.
The EC will certify the election results within seven working days in case there is no complaint about election frauds in that province.
The 74 appointed senators were chosen two weeks ago by a seven-member committee.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had to go to the polling station twice to successfully cast his ballot, according to AFP.
