(VOVworld) – Thailand’s Election Commission has been unable to recruit the 140,000 officials needed to supervise the election in 15 southern provinces which will take place in 3 weeks’ time. The commission’s Secretary-General Puchong Nutrawong said on Thursday that the commission will invoke Article 20 of the Election Commission Act and order government agencies to send their staffs to help with the election. The commission faces difficulty in finding venues for polling stations.

People search for their names on lists at a polling station in Phnom Penh on July 28, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)

6,000 polling stations will be opened in Bangkok. The commission has sought help from the city administration, the Education Ministry, and the armed forces to help provide officials.

A special election forum held by the government agreed to keep the election date unchanged on February 2^nd.

In another development, Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul ordered the police to arrest protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and his associates.