Nakhon Phanom: The Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization elections witnessed a lively atmosphere in the morning as residents came out in large numbers to exercise their voting rights. This election saw the second largest number of candidates in the country.
According to Thai News Agency, the Thai News Agency news team observed the voting process for the Provincial Administrative Organization Council and the president of Nakhon Phanom PAO in Si Songkhram District. The atmosphere at several polling stations was active, with a continuous stream of voters. The ballot paper for the Northeastern PAO was brown for the president and blue-green for PAO members, a distinction officials and polling station committees highlighted to prevent confusion, particularly among elderly voters.
At Saharat Rangsarit School in Si Songkhram Subdistrict Municipality, which hosts two polling stations with over 1,200 eligible voters, candidate number 2, Ms. Suphapani Phothisu, the former mayor, cast her vote at polling station 5, constituency 1, at around 9:00 a.m., accompanied by her family, including Mr. Supachai Phothisu and Ms. Poonsuk Phothisu. To avoid any election law violations, they refrained from making comments.
Similarly, Mr. Anuchit Hongsadee, candidate number 8 from the Pheu Thai Party, voted at polling station 10, constituency 2, located in the community hall of the Phon Sawan Subdistrict Administrative Organization. He plans to establish a war room at a hotel in downtown Nakhon Phanom to await the election results after the polls close.
Ms. Pimol Phon Sai, Director of the Election Office of Nakhon Phanom Province, reported that the election proceedings have been smooth thus far, with no evidence found in response to reports of vote buying and selling. The impact of holding the election on a Saturday on voter turnout is yet to be assessed, but there were visible signs of participation, with many shops closed to allow employees to vote. Officials reminded employers not to obstruct or delay employees from voting. The target is for no less than 65 percent of eligible voters, totaling over 560,000 people, to cast their votes across 12 districts and 1,140 units.
In Nakhon Phanom Province, eight candidates are vying for the PAO president position and 248 candidates for the PAO council, making it the second highest in the country. The Nakhon Phanom PAO tested a real-time election results reporting system, with unofficial results expected by 10 p.m.