Low Turnout In By-elections In 6 Provinces

[george]

Low turnout in by-elections in 6 provinces

BANGKOK: -- By-elections were held Sunday in six provinces, with Election Commission (EC) officials projected voter turnout would only be around half of total eligible voters.

The by-elections were being held in the northeastern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Sakon Nakhon and Udon Thani, in the North in Lampang and Phrae provinces and in the Central province of Nakhon Nayok.

EC officials said they expected about 50 per cent of eligible voters would exercise their right in the by-elections, organised after EC authorities handout out yellow cards to winners in the December 23 general election for alleged involvement in electoral wrongdoing.

In general the atmosphere at polling booths was reported to be dull, attributed to the fact some eligible voters did not know by-elections were being held in their provinces, while others were working and still others were "tired" of the election activities.

Polling booths in all the six provinces were to close at 3 pm local time, with results expected to be known in the evening.

-- TNA 2008-01-20