Official charter referendum figures posted

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday announced the official referendum figures which show a 59.4% turnout, of which 61.35% voters were in favour of the draft charter and 38.65% against.

EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said of 50,071,589 eligible voters, 29,740,677 exercised their right last Sunday, and there were 28,804,432 valid ballots.

Votes for the draft charter amounted to 16,820,402, and negative votes stood at 10,598,037.

For the additional referendum question for senators to jointly elect the next prime minister with MPs, 15,132,050 (58.07%) approved the question and 10,926,648 (41.93 %) were against it.

Ballots marked with only one of the two referendum questions answered were excluded from the percentage calculation, said acting EC secretary-general Boonyakiat Rakchartcharoen.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on all sides to put aside their differences after the result was officially announced.

Gen Prayut urged them to join hands to move the country forward as problems and challenges lay ahead.

The referendum vote reflected the confidence and the trust of people in the National Council for Peace and Order, and the government. 

"Don't underestimate the power of people," he added in a nationally televised programme to thank all voters.

Election Commissioners announce the official result of the charter referendum at the Election Commission Office on Wednesday. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)