EC readying registration venues for election runners amid concerns of obstruction

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BANGKOK, 25 December 2013 – Election Commission (EC) bodies in many provinces are getting to get the venues ready for the registration of constituency-based MP candidates, scheduled for December 28 through January 1, amid the possibility of obstructions by protesters.

The candidates for party-list MP seats have yet to be assigned numbers for use in the general election, due to the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protestoes’ blockade of the Din Daeng sports complex in Bangkok. This has led the EC bodies in the provinces to request police presence at the registration venues, during the registration period for constituency-based MPs.

The EC body in Satun was reportedly organizing personnel to handle the registration for the province’s two constituencies. Meanwhile the EC body in Trang expressed readiness in holding registration of the candidates for all of the province’s 4 constituencies. Election Commission officials in Trang revealed that the province had 3 voting stations located on islands. In previous elections, long-tail boats were used to transport the ballot boxes. However, if the weather proved challenging, the Water Police will be asked to help transport the boxes.