(Thailand, 1st) Thailand's general election early voting began at 8am local time on Sunday (February 1), allowing more than 2 million eligible voters to cast their ballots early.
According to reports from The Nation and Xinhua, statistics from Thailand's Election Commission show that over 2.4 million voters registered for early voting, including 138,000 overseas voters.
Voters participating in early voting will receive two ballots, one for a candidate in their constituency and another for their preferred party. Voting ends at 5pm local time (6pm Malaysia time), and ballots will be counted together after the official voting ends on February 8.
Due to regulations, the constitutional referendum will only take place on the general election voting day on February 8, so early voters will not be able to participate in the referendum.
This election has 53 million eligible voters, who will select 500 members of the House of Representatives from more than 5,000 candidates nominated by 57 parties. These 500 seats are divided into 400 constituency seats and 100 party-list seats. The official counting results must be announced by April 9 at the latest.
A poll published 10 days before voting day by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA Poll) shows that among the prime minister candidates, People's Party leader Natthapong leads with 29.08% support, followed by Bhumjaithai Party's Anutin (22.24%) and Democrat Party's Abhisit (12.52%). Compared to the previous poll, Anutin's support rate increased by about 2 percentage points, while Pheu Thai Party's Yuttacharn was squeezed out of the top three.
In terms of constituency seats, the People's Party ranks first with 33.56%, widening its lead over the Bhumjaithai Party. The Bhumjaithai Party is second at 22.76%, and the Pheu Thai Party (16.92%) is third.
Voters participating in early voting will receive two ballots, one for a candidate in their constituency and another for their preferred party. Voting ends at 5pm local time (6pm Malaysia time), and ballots will be counted together after the official voting ends on February 8.
Due to regulations, the constitutional referendum will only take place on the general election voting day on February 8, so early voters will not be able to participate in the referendum.
This election has 53 million eligible voters, who will select 500 members of the House of Representatives from more than 5,000 candidates nominated by 57 parties. These 500 seats are divided into 400 constituency seats and 100 party-list seats. The official counting results must be announced by April 9 at the latest.
A poll published 10 days before voting day by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA Poll) shows that among the prime minister candidates, People's Party leader Natthapong leads with 29.08% support, followed by Bhumjaithai Party's Anutin (22.24%) and Democrat Party's Abhisit (12.52%). Compared to the previous poll, Anutin's support rate increased by about 2 percentage points, while Pheu Thai Party's Yuttacharn was squeezed out of the top three.
In terms of constituency seats, the People's Party ranks first with 33.56%, widening its lead over the Bhumjaithai Party. The Bhumjaithai Party is second at 22.76%, and the Pheu Thai Party (16.92%) is third.