A week before Thailand's first elections in eight years, hundreds and thousands of voters crowded into schools, parking lots and temples across the country, eager to cast an early ballot.
Advanced voting is usually a tepid affair, but on Sunday excitement was high as voters turned up in droves to polling stations.
Around 2.6 million, from among the 51 million eligible voters have registered to vote outside their home constituencies in Thailand, including over 928,000 who will cast their votes who will cast their votes from Bangkok.
“I finally have a chance to cast my vote as I've waited for so long,” said 48-year-old Paka Kaengkhiew as she stood in line in front of Bangkok's Phra Khanong district office.
These polls will also see many first-time voters. Booths in various districts saw people throng the grounds hours before polling begins. In Dusit district — home to military offices and government buildings — voters crowded in a school yard before a polling station there opened. This was also the case Bangkapi district, where queues started to form at 6 am, two hours before polling actually began.
People dressed in their work clothes — military uniforms, hospital scrubs and more casual attire — waited patiently to cast their ballot, aided by student helpers.
Prem Tinsulanonda, the 98-year-old powerful president of the Privy Council, former premier who served as Regent after the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2016, arrived in a wheelchair at the polling station at Sukhothai School in Dusit district.
Watched by Thai and international media, the 98-year-old was pushed in a wheelchair into a classroom boasting a portrait of the late King Bhumibol, who he advised, before walking the final steps to a polling booth.
Analysts say the new electoral system favours the army-aligned party fronted by junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who is running to be civilian prime minister after a government is formed.
