Nakhon Si Thammarat: The Election Commission chairman visited the area to inspect the orderliness of the by-election for the MP of Constituency 8 in Nakhon Si Thammarat. He revealed that there were no unusual incidents on the night the dog howled and there were no complaints about violations of election laws. The villagers admitted that even though they were fed up with the by-election, they still had to come out and do their duty as citizens.

According to Thai News Agency, the atmosphere of exercising the right to vote in the by-election for the MP of Constituency 8, Nakhon Si Thammarat, which consists of four districts: Chang Klang, Na Bon, Phipun, and Chawang, has been marked by a steady turnout since the morning. In Chawang District, which has the most polling stations, citizens have been consistently participating, particularly at polling stations located in community areas along the railway, such as Chandi Sub-district.

At Polling Station 5 in Lak Chang Subdistrict, Chang Klang District, 82-year-old Grandma Sengiam, a former headman, was the first to check names and vote. She was accompanied by her grandson, and both expressed a commitment to voting for a representative who would advocate for the locals. Despite fatigue from repeated by-elections, they emphasized the importance of civic duty and encouraged others to participate.

Mr. Ittiporn Boonprakong, chairman of the Election Commission, alongside Mr. Somchai Leelanoi, governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, reported that the election across 233 polling units in the four districts proceeded smoothly. There were no detected violations of election laws, and no petitions were filed regarding such violations. Although reports of vote buying surfaced, the EC is investigating and welcomes any evidence to aid in the inquiry.

Mr. Itthiporn assured that the EC is prepared to address any legal violations, emphasizing their commitment to fair elections. He mentioned that potential complaints could trigger another election if substantiated, but ensuring integrity remains their priority.

The governor reiterated the necessity for political neutrality among government officials and local leaders, issuing an urgent directive to uphold this stance.

For this by-election, the number of eligible voters in Constituency 8 totaled 117,717, a slight increase from 2023. Chawang District had the highest number of eligible voters, followed by Pipun, Chang Klang, and Na Bon Districts. The previous voter turnout was 76.52%, and the EC aims to match or exceed this participation rate.