(2 February) The 2 February election is over, but the Thais have to wait until at least 23 February to learn the outcome of the poll.
The delay is caused by cancellation of numerous polling stations in some of Bangkok′s districts and 10 southern provinces, where anti-election protesters blocked the election offices and other polling venues.
Future voting days will be held in areas where the public could not cast their votes today, Election Commission (EC) officials said.
In the meantime, no preliminary result of 2 February election will be announced, said Mr. Banchong Sukdee, deputy Permanent Secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
"The result will have to wait until the election is fully completed," Mr. Banchong explained, "Otherwise it would mislead the public".
According to Mr. Banchong, individual polling stations can count their votes and announce the result in front of the venue for the public to observe, but officials are not allowed to transfer these results to the Election Commission.
Furthermore, each district will not send its results to the central vote counting centre established by the EC, Mr. Banchong said.
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