BANGKOK, 2 March 2014 The election Commission (EC) has reported that the Sunday re-run elections in five provinces where the original vote was cancelled had turnout of 10.20% or 93,835 people. No disruptions have been reported.
The five provinces include Phetchaburi, Rayong, Phetchabun, Samut Sonkhram and Samut Sakhon. Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the overall Sunday polls were orderly and speculated that the low turnout was caused by the political problems and people’s disagreement with a general election during this period. The EC itself had very little time to promote the elections, he added.
The EC has not yet approved the poll results since there are many election districts where vote counting has not finished.
As for the 16 provinces whose 2 February polls were disrupted, the election commissioner said the EC would meet to discuss the matter on 7 March in Songkhla province and it was likely that polls for the 16 provinces would take place early April after the Senate election on 30 March.
