Thai EC expects 70% voters' turnout in Senate election

BANGKOK, March 26 (TNA) - The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) is intensifying its campaigns to encourage eligible voters to exercise their right in the senatorial election on March 30 and expects a 70 per cent of voters' turnout. As part of the campaigns, election commissioners, executives of the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EAT), Miss Thailand and two runners-up on Wednesday handed out leaflets to encourage voters’ turnout in Sunday's Senate election at the expressway toll plaza in Bangkok's Prachachuen area. The campaign interested expressway users. EC Chairman Supachai Somcharoen told reporters that such campaigns will be continued until the March 30 Senate election date to create awareness on the roles and importance of senators among Thai eligible voters. Supachai acknowledged although the advance senatorial election happened last Sunday, some people remain unaware of the senatorial election and he wishes the intensified campaigns will result in a voters’ turnout of 70 per cent as targeted. The EC chairman said he does not think that persistent domestic political protests will affect the upcoming senatorial election and lead to its nullification, as what had happened to the general election on February 2, 2014. The EC chairman also noted that the EC is waiting for a written ruling against the February 2 general election from the Constitution Court and will later discuss the schedule of a fresh election with the caretaker government. Bangkok's Constitution Court recently ruled to nullify the February 2 general election, reasoning that it did not happen nationwide on a single day as required by the Constitution. (TNA)