Election support centres will be up and running in the provinces and districts to provide logistical and security support to the Election Commission (EC) in the run-up to the March 24 polls, said the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA).
The centres will deploy military personnel, police, administrative officials, and staff of security agencies to maintain order and support poll arrangements, said DPA chief Arthit Boonyasophat on Thursday.
The centres located in the districts will report to provincial-level centres, which will focus on gathering intelligence, which is essential for upholding the law in constituencies.
The intelligence work will be linked to various state agencies nationwide as the centres are expected to promptly respond to security situations, the DPA director-general said.
The opening of the centres is expected to be made official in due course. The budget to finance their operations will be brought up for discussion with the EC, according to Mr Arthit.
The DPA is attached to the Interior Ministry, which is assisting the EC in organising the elections through the ministry's network of local administrative organisations and agencies nationwide.
Mr Arthit said complaints have been directed against some district chiefs, who have been accused of providing preferential treatment to certain party candidates. However, after investigation, most of the complaints were found to be untrue. The DPA's announcement of the support centres came after the Interior Ministry released key election figures on Thursday.
There are a total of 51,427,628 eligible voters in this election and 92,837 polling stations will be set up around the country with 80% voter turnout and no more than 2% dud ballots expected, said Deputy Interior Minister Sutee Markboon.
The previous election in 2011 saw 75% voter turnout.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commissioner Suthipong Wongpin said police are scouring for information about influential figures in Bangkok who could create unrest during the election.
The MPB has the capacity to assist the EC by safeguarding the polling stations and the ballot boxes before and during the election. Police officers will be on hand to provide protection during the vote counting process.
Also, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said 928,789 people have applied for advance voting outside of their registered domiciles on March 17, across 30 districts of Bangkok.