The national election got underway on Sunday after outbreaks of violence the previous day, but polling was cancelled in most areas of the southern region and in many constituencies in Bangkok.
A voter exercise her right at a polling booth in Don Muang district. Polling has not gone smoothly in some Bangkok districts and the southern provinces. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
Election officials cancelled the poll in nine of 14 provinces in the South. The provinces of Songkhla, Trang, Phatthalung, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ranong, Krabi, Chumphon and Phangnga had no voting at all.
They did not have constituency candidates, no party-list ballot papers and no officials to man the polling stations, Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Puchong Nuttrawong said.
Voting was underway in four of nine constituencies in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, he said. Booths were open in all constituencies in Satun, Yala, Narathiwat and Pattana but voters could not vote for party-list candidates as there were no ballot sheets, he added
Anti-government protesters in Chumphon province celebrate on Sunday after ending their post office blockade. (Photo by Amnart Thongdee)
In Prachuap Khiri Khan, most polling stations opened for voting, Mr Puchong said.
Bangkok was experiencing many problems following a rally by anti-government protesters which forced most polling stations in Ratchathewi, Din Daeng and Lak Si districts to close. Some stations in Bang Kapi and Bung Kum districts were also closed as there were no officials to man the booths.
Only some stations in Lak Si district opened for polling. Lak Si was the scene of a clash on Saturday between the red shirts and People's Democratic Reform Committee members which left six people injured.
All stations were able to open in the northern and northeastern regions, and 122 out of 127 polling stations opened in the central and eastern provinces, according to the EC.
The EC will set up a new election date for the areas unable to open on Sunday. It could be one week after the new advance voting day scheduled for Feb 23.