Turnout could rival 85% seen in last post-coup poll in 2007

Palang Pracharath Party leader Uttama Savanayana helps local candidate Udom Onsan campaign in Hua Hin on Saturday ahead of advance voting tomorrow. (Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)

Nearly 97% of respondents in the latest opinion survey by Bangkok Poll say they intend to vote in the March 24 general election.

More than half said that party policies would be their first consideration when deciding which candidate to vote for, the pollsters said.

The findings were based on interviews with 1,794 people nationwide by Bangkok University Research Centre on March 11 and 12.

All opinion polls conducted in the past month have consistently reported that at least 90% of respondents intend to vote in the country’s first election in nearly eight years. This would be a record, although voter turnout in national elections does tend to be higher in Thailand than in many other countries.

In the last successfully completed general election in 2011 (the 2014 vote was annulled), voter turnout was 75%. That compared with 85.4% in 2007, following a previous military coup, 72% in 2005 and 69.9% in 2001.

While 96.9% of respondents told Bangkok Poll they planned to exercise their voting rights, only 1.6% did not want to cast ballots for varying reasons. Attending classes, going to work, tight schedules, no interesting candidates to choose and being fed up with politics were among the reasons given. The remaining respondents were undecided.

Asked which factors led them to choose political parties and candidates, 55.9% said they would take into consideration party policies. That was followed by capability and vision of candidates (39.7%), and past achievements of candidates and parties (39.3%).

Other deciding factors included candidates with no history of corruption (38.7%), ability to solve community problems (35.9%), the party’s prime ministerial candidate (26.6%), a track record as an MP or affiliation with a major party (20.5% each), well-known personalities (4.3%).

A total of 2,632,935 people out of 51 million eligible voters nationwide have registered for advance voting on Sunday.

In Phuket, almost 50,000 voters have registered for advance voting, said Natthawat Wong-issaraparp, director of the provincial election panel.

The island province has two constituencies spread over its three districts — Muang, Thalang and Kathu — with a total population of 402,017 people, 294,424 of them eligible voters.

In Chai Nat, a total of 2,955 people have registered for advance voting in two constituencies.

Voters can cast their ballots on Sunday between 8am and 5pm.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, the Palang Pracharath Party expressed confidence that its candidate would win the election in Hua Hin.

Party leader Uttama Savanayana on Saturday led a team to the beach town to campaign for candidate Udom Onsan before the advance voting.

Addressing an enthusiastic crowd at Chatchai market, Mr Uttama emphasised his party’s policies to improve tap water and airport services, along with better living standards.

Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit campaigns for three party candidates in Muang district of Kalasin province on Saturday. (Photo by Yongyut Phupuangphet)

Jatuporn Prompan, a red-shirt leader, helps Pheu Chart candidate Aranya Khanakorn campaign at Tha Muang market in Tha Muang district of Kanchanaburi on Saturday. (Photo by Piyarach Chongcharoen)