MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

More than 72% of voters cast their ballots in Sunday's general election _ an unprecedented turnout in Thai political history.

Election Commission chairman Wasana Permlarp yesterday said unofficial results from 171 constituencies showed the voter turnout nationwide was likely to be above 72%.

The tsunami-hit resort province of Phuket topped all other provinces with 89%, followed by Phrae 82%, Nakhon Pathom 80% and Chanthaburi 79%. Nong Khai saw the lowest turnout at 61%.

Pol Gen Wasana said the election went smoothly in the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat with no violent attacks taking place on election day Sunday.

"The EC wants to thank the people for the high voter turnout. The number of voters exercising their rights has been higher than we targeted. Re-elections will be held in some constituencies. Constituencies which reported a 100% voter turnout will receive rewards," he said.

A total of 190 poll fraud cases against candidates have been forwarded to the commission.

He said all five commissioners were going through the cases and the EC would tomorrow name the constituencies where re-polling would be held on Feb 20.

Meanwhile, an opinion survey by Assumption University found that the Thaksin Shinawatra-led government was returned to power in a landslide victory because voters were happy with many of its policies.

The Abac poll, conducted among 5,724 people in 25 provinces including Bangkok during Feb 2-7, said the majority were satisfied with the government's past actions on drug suppression, the one-tambon-one-product promotion, 30-baht medical care scheme, one-million-baht village fund and the debt moratorium for farmers.

Most respondents said they were unhappy only with the southern violence and corruption.

Nearly half the number of respondents agreed with a single-party administration.

Asked what they wished from the new government, the respondents listed free education, steady anti-drug suppression, farmers' loans, housing for the poor and poverty eradication.

Prof Srisakdi Charmonman, chairman of the Abac Poll unit, said Mr Thaksin's popularity ranged from 40% to 72% between April 2001 and July 2004. His popularity dropped from 62% last July to 48% last September but surged to 77% among the people surveyed this month.