Thais abroad register for election

Thais abroad register for election

The number of overseas absentee ballot applications for the coming polls indicates that expatriate Thais support the Feb 2 general election, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Monday.

Surapong: Overseas Thais want the election. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Mr Surapong, also head of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo), said 143,800 expatriate Thais have registered to cast votes from abroad. This was 2,862 people fewer than the figure for the 2007 elections.

The largest number is in the USA (14,985), followed by Singapore (10,356), Germany (8,868) and the UK (5,239).

The number of Thais who have applied to vote  is about 13.8% of the 1.04 million Thais registered as living abroad. 

“The registered number for the two general elections is quite close, showing that Thais living overseas understand democracy and want the polls on Feb 2 to take place,” he said. 

Mr Surapong said the total was tallied from information provided by consulates around the world. All applications had been verified by the Election Commission.

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