(VOVworld) – Voting has been canceled at around 16 voting stations in Bangkok as Thai anti-government protesters blocked access to some polling stations as advanced voting began, and prevented officials in charge to get to the stations. Early voting in southern provinces was deterred while voting in north, northeast and central Thailand took place smoothly. Approximately 49 million Thai people are eligible voters and 2.6 million have registered to vote. The Thai Electoral Committee on Saturday said that single early voting stations can postpone their activities if demonstrators block their stations.
The same day, Thai interim Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana said the Electoral Committee will meet with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra next Tuesday to discuss voting cancellation. But time and date for the meeting has not yet been announced.
Thai demonstrators organized marches on many Bangkok streets on Saturday, despite an ordinance on the state of emergency came into force earlier in the week. The marches were led by Suthep Thangsuban to encourage the Thai people to support reforms before election. Demonstrators said they would not prevent voters to cast their ballots in early voting on Sunday but would launch campaigns to carry out reforms before election.