Election Commission Hotline 1444 Swamped with Calls About Voting Locations and Referendum

On February 8, 2024, the Election Commission (EC) has set up voting for Members of Parliament and a national referendum between 08:00-17:00 hours. Since early morning, citizens have been continuously calling the EC's emergency hotline 1444, particularly asking about advanced voting rights and locating voting units. Deputy Secretary-General Veera Yee-prae explained that some people who previously registered for advanced parliamentary elections could not register for out-of-zone referendum voting. Referendum voters must vote at their home district polling station, with exceptions for necessary circumstances like illness or distance. Voters will receive three ballots: district MP, party-list MP, and referendum ballots. The hotline has 10 available phone lines to handle continuous inquiries, with staff attempting to resolve questions and provide assistance until midnight.