OBSERVING THE THAI ELECTION

Although a private poll, much of what happened in today's General Election in Thailand was very public. Public in the sense that some polling stations are on the sidewalks, and public in the sense that I was personally able to watch proceedings at very close quarters.

My polling station of choice was at a school in a small soi off Charansanitwong Road. Sitting next to one of two policemen on duty, I watched a steady stream of people arrive, chat, vote and leave. For most the whole process lasted little more than a few minutes. I watched as voter after voter dropped their ballot papers into the box - one side of which had clear glass to ensure transparency - literally.

I doubt a foreigner with no voting rights would be able to get so close to the poll in my home country of the United Kingdom.