"I think it will pass...I have my doubts."

Mr. Decisive has left the room.

aimed at me ?

doubts refer to the changes ................................

My girlfriend has read it and is voting "yes", against my unsolicited advice. Her mother has not read it, and has a slight case of dementia. I believe she is voting "aroi".

What I hear around here in the North ...people are massively voting 'NO'.

Thanks for that excellent report by the Financial Times. Really spot on - best I've seen so far. The closing quote really sums it up too:

"Thaksin exposed and promoted mass politics - he provided people opportunities, hopes and dreams," he says. "Now the elites are trying to shut that down. But in the long term, I don't think they can do it."

I wonder if there will come a time when the Thai people won't stand for the elites sh+tting on them any more? On can only hope so.

My girlfriend has read it and is voting "yes", against my unsolicited advice. Her mother has not read it, and has a slight case of dementia. I believe she is voting "aroi".

What I hear around here in the North ...people are massively voting 'NO'.

I just spoke with the wife, who voted in the North, and she said that in her area most seem to have voted "No".

Pamphlet ?? My wife has a 190 page booklet.

Basically it ravages most everything Frank brought in or renames the good stuff he initiated.

Yes box on the left, No box on the right.

And most people are right handed.

When you think about it, who will most likely vote? Maybe those who live at home? Maybe only those who's familes are hi-so? In bangkok etc, cause it's easy for them - and they suffered under Thaksin's rule - taking their daddy's hand out of the cookie jar?

How many working class Thais are willing to get on a bus and ride to Ubon/Udon wherever for 8 hours to vote in a referendum?

And how many of them would have voted no? How many of this group feel they were ripped off by the coup?

I'll report this myself to the mods to make sure it's ok - because it is so close to voting time. But ya gotta wonder how legit a poll can be when so many things seem loaded in favor of the YES guys..Of course whatever the outcome, that doesn't mean the Democrats will be drinking champagne and doing little deals between establishment families just yet..I'll bet the Issarn Thais will DEFINITELY ride the bus home for the BIG one! We'll see.

Thong Lor, land of the millionaires and playboys, had a very quiet polling station. All gone away to Hua Hin, Cha-am for the long weekend.

Most people in Section 2 of Prachinburi are voting yes. They couldn't care less one way or another but just want the country to move forward.....

Does the referendum law provide for secret vote?

My wife did cast her ballot and told me that she had to enter the voter's list reference number on the ballot sheet.

This would mean that each vote cast can be matched up to the individual voter.

opalhort

A good overview of the new constitution

----------------------------------------------

I've unsuccessfully searched the Thai English language press for some time for a good analysis of the issues involved in the proposed new constitution. The same with the international press. Then today I came across an article in Thursday's London Financial Times which seems to be quite a masterly overview of what is now at stake. It's written by the FT Bangkok bureau chief, a veteran of the Bangkok scene, whose reports on Thailand and SE Asia are just about the only honest ones that appear in the English-language press in Europe.

I found this on the FT Web site through Google. For those who're interested the following link should take you there:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a38f4de8-4b90-11dc...00779fd2ac.html

If any body has problems, PM me and I'll email a downloaded copy.

Thanks for that link, an excellent summation of what the coup was really about, what the constitution is supposed to achieve, and what the longer term strategy of those behind the coup intend.

Naturally there will still be those here, blinded by their anti-Taksin paranoia, that think this referendum has something to do with democracy. Also generally in a referendum the government outlines the YES and NO cases for the population to evaluate, whereas here that was far from the case, more a vote YES or else.

You must think why did so many middle class support the coup, when they didn't in 1991.

It's because they know of Thaksin's massive corruption, change of laws to benefit his companies, interference in every check and balance, suspected bribery and bribery attempts of judges, etc. The elected senate was a shambles, the first one contained a few good men but most were willing to remain silent and unwilling to monitor Thaksin. The second was even worse with a large percentage being relatives of sitting TRT MPs!

It's a fact many MPs can be bought. Just last week several MPs who said they would join Chart Thai reversed their decision and went to Thaksin's nominee, Palang Prachachon Party. A figure of 30 million baht per head was mentioned.

Thaksin is still very rich and he will do anything to regain power.

Do you know that when he was PM he refused to answer many questions from the press and even dissolved Parliament after one year rather than face questions from The Opposition.

There is nothing democratic about the man.

Does the referendum law provide for secret vote?

My wife did cast her ballot and told me that she had to enter the voter's list reference number on the ballot sheet.

This would mean that each vote cast can be matched up to the individual voter.

opalhort

Not correct.

The list is there to check who is registered (and elegible) to vote. This is to make sure some people don't cast multiple votes.

Voting is done in private with the voter marking on a ballot form and dropping it in a locked box. There is no refernce number linking voter ID on the ballot card.

I wonder if there will come a time when the Thai people won't stand for the elites sh+tting on them any more? On can only hope so.

Are you saying that the poor masses would somehow be more ethical and fair if they were to suddenly/magically swap places? One of the first things poor folks who move on up like George and Wheezy do after buying that refrigerator and television is to buy a more efficient (and elite?) crapper. Then there's the Vigo... then a bigger house ...with more crappers.

Does the referendum law provide for secret vote?

My wife did cast her ballot and told me that she had to enter the voter's list reference number on the ballot sheet.

This would mean that each vote cast can be matched up to the individual voter.

opalhort

Not correct.

The list is there to check who is registered (and elegible) to vote. This is to make sure some people don't cast multiple votes.

Voting is done in private with the voter marking on a ballot form and dropping it in a locked box. There is no refernce number linking voter ID on the ballot card.

My wife, and all other voters, were clearly instructed to state the voter reference number (as on the voter's list) on the ballot sheet.

This was in BKK and my wife is educated and when she came back from voting she immediately told me that the voting was not secret because of this reference number.

opalhort

looks like the NE has spoken ,

then there is the rest of the country .....................

http://202.60.199.51/en/?zone=4

looks like the NE has spoken ,

then there is the rest of the country .....................

http://202.60.199.51/en/?zone=4

Jesus F. Christ!

If that trend, as indicated there, stays, then we might have a very tight run.

My wife, and all other voters, were clearly instructed to state the voter reference number (as on the voter's list) on the ballot sheet.

This was in BKK and my wife is educated and when she came back from voting she immediately told me that the voting was not secret because of this reference number.

opalhort

No shit! I honestly wondered why you posted in the first place, I have trouble believing that sort of action could take place! How could that be a private & impartial vote?

I walked through the voting booth with my wife today & all I saw was her tick the box & drop it in the locked case.

Cheers.

looks like the NE has spoken ,

then there is the rest of the country .....................

http://202.60.199.51/en/?zone=4

Jesus F. Christ!

If that trend, as indicated there, stays, then we might have a very tight run.

No Vote is moving further ahead ,

and could be catching up in the North ................

My wife, and all other voters, were clearly instructed to state the voter reference number (as on the voter's list) on the ballot sheet.

This was in BKK and my wife is educated and when she came back from voting she immediately told me that the voting was not secret because of this reference number.

opalhort

No shit! I honestly wondered why you posted in the first place, I have trouble believing that sort of action could take place! How could that be a private & impartial vote?

I walked through the voting booth with my wife today & all I saw was her tick the box & drop it in the locked case.

Cheers.

And just furthering this comment.

Every eligable voter has to use their registration number to get a ballot card. Every ballot card is numbered. There is no crosslink (unless somebody is taking it down manually) between the voter registration number & the ballot card number.

Soundman.

No Vote is moving further ahead ,

and could be catching up in the North ................

In Isaarn - the most populated region - the "No" vote so far leads by 1/3 rd, North is about 50/50.

WOW!

My wife, and all other voters, were clearly instructed to state the voter reference number (as on the voter's list) on the ballot sheet.

This was in BKK and my wife is educated and when she came back from voting she immediately told me that the voting was not secret because of this reference number.

opalhort

No shit! I honestly wondered why you posted in the first place, I have trouble believing that sort of action could take place! How could that be a private & impartial vote?

I walked through the voting booth with my wife today & all I saw was her tick the box & drop it in the locked case.

Cheers.

And just furthering this comment.

Every eligable voter has to use their registration number to get a ballot card. Every ballot card is numbered. There is no crosslink (unless somebody is taking it down manually) between the voter registration number & the ballot card number.

Soundman.

my wife just got back from voting,said the guys there said a poor turn out ,well nobody comes from samui and anyone from samui have sold out and moved on .........

My wife, and all other voters, were clearly instructed to state the voter reference number (as on the voter's list) on the ballot sheet.

This was in BKK and my wife is educated and when she came back from voting she immediately told me that the voting was not secret because of this reference number.

opalhort

No shit! I honestly wondered why you posted in the first place, I have trouble believing that sort of action could take place! How could that be a private & impartial vote?

I walked through the voting booth with my wife today & all I saw was her tick the box & drop it in the locked case.

Cheers.

And just furthering this comment.

Every eligable voter has to use their registration number to get a ballot card. Every ballot card is numbered. There is no crosslink (unless somebody is taking it down manually) between the voter registration number & the ballot card number.

Soundman.

originally posted by JaiDee here ..

All provinces receive referendum ballots

The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand has delivered the referendum ballots to all provinces of Thailand. All ballots contain security codes, and ballots from each region have different colors.

Dr. Sutthipol Thaweechaikarn (สุทธิพล ทวีชัยการ), the EC Secretary-General, says all provinces have received the referendum ballots. He expects no problems should arise because all ballots have security codes and each region use ballots with different colors.

Dr. Sutthipol urges eligible voters not to throw away their voting rights by taking part in the 2007 constitution referendum on August 19th. He asks people to take careful consideration before deciding whether they want to approve or disapprove the new charter draft.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 August 2007

originally posted by JaiDee here ..

All provinces receive referendum ballots

The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand has delivered the referendum ballots to all provinces of Thailand. All ballots contain security codes, and ballots from each region have different colors.

Dr. Sutthipol Thaweechaikarn (สุทธิพล ทวีชัยการ), the EC Secretary-General, says all provinces have received the referendum ballots. He expects no problems should arise because all ballots have security codes and each region use ballots with different colors.

Dr. Sutthipol urges eligible voters not to throw away their voting rights by taking part in the 2007 constitution referendum on August 19th. He asks people to take careful consideration before deciding whether they want to approve or disapprove the new charter draft.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 August 2007

Mid, I think opalhort's wife was complaining that the voter registration numbers may have been matched with the ballot security codes. If this is the case, what is democracy?

Mid, I think opalhort's wife was complaining that the voter registration numbers may have been matched with the ballot security codes. If this is the case, what is democracy?

agreed , see my post under JD's original .

The polls just closed, and here's a report on Yahoo News that the votes were yes in favor:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070819/ap_on_...Y2WnH_DvuQUewgF

Mid, I think opalhort's wife was complaining that the voter registration numbers may have been matched with the ballot security codes. If this is the case, what is democracy?

agreed , see my post under JD's original .

agreed too.

I went down to the ballot today, & there was no sign of underhandedness (not like the last national election with TRT overseers everywhere). They even had an area for actvists to speak set aside, clearly roped - however not utilised. There were loacl officials, EC officials & police all seated to give the appearance of a fair ballot.

From the booth I saw voting was fair!

My wife voted here in Bangkok a few hours ago - show ID card (registration number) and ticked off on master list and next person hands you top ballot paper from pile. The only recording it your ID card number being checked off.

How can they count the votes before the polls are closed.

Total result includes way under 3 million including voids out of over 45 million eligible.

OK, I just grilled my wife a bit more about the details.

The officers handing her the ballot wrote down her voter registration and the code of the ballot on a stub (my wife said it is like a check book).

She went with her father and they found that each of them had a different ballot code, hence - the thinking that the ballot code could me matched up to the voter registration number.

My wife and her father were asked by the officer to write their voter registration number on the ballot but they did not do so.

I'm not sure what to make out of this.

opalhort

expect the North to vote No , less than 1K behind now .....................

I'm not sure what to make out of this.

you have an intelligent wife .

polls closed at 4pm local