57 candidates to contest Phuket OrBorJor election
PHUKET: The registration period for the upcoming Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) council election, to be held on August 26, closed on Saturday with 57 candidates registering to contest the 24 council seats available.
OrBorJor Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Manop Leelasuthanon said the registration period, which opened on July 31, “received a great deal of attention from a great many people”.
In total, 57 candidates registered for seats in 24 districts. The districts comprise 15 seats for Muang District, six seats for Thalang District and three seats for Kathu District.
The Khon Baan Rao party, headed by OrBorJor President Paiboon Upatising, has entered 19 candidates contesting 19 seats, leaving five seats uncontested.
Nine candidates have entered the election as “Independents”, with eight candidates contesting seven seats in Muang District, one candidate contesting one seat in Kathu and no independents contesting any seats in Thalang.
The remaining 29 candidates registered as “Others”, with 18 candidates contesting 10 seats in Muang District, two candidates contesting two seats in Kathu and nine candidates contesting all five seats in Thalang.
A total of 358 polling stations across the island will be open from 8am to 3pm on election day for people to cast their votes.
“I believe about 70 per cent of those eligible to vote will turn out. I hope everyone will come to vote on August 26,” Mr Manop told the Gazette.
“For voting districts that have only one candidate, the candidate must receive at least 10 per cent of the total number of eligible votes in their electorate in order to be win their seat,” he added.
In line with Thailand’s policy of banning the sale and purchase of alcohol before an election, the sale of alcohol will be prohibited island-wide from 6pm Saturday, August 25, to midnight on Sunday, August 26.
— Kritsada Mueanhawong
