71-Year-Old Blind Grandmother Refuses to Lose Her Right to Vote, Returns from Samut Sakhon to Surin

On February 8, 2024, during the parliamentary and referendum elections in Phnom Dong Rak District, Surin Province, local residents carefully came out to vote, with some initially hesitant due to potential conflicts with Cambodia. Yai Soon, a 71-year-old visually impaired woman, was brought by relatives to the polling station, determined not to miss her voting opportunity. Despite being unable to see, she navigated the voting process by touching the ballot, recognizing candidate numbers through tactile markers. She had previously missed only one election when she was living with her daughter in Samut Sakhon for eight months. Local residents like Yai Soon and Ta Lim, aged 77, express ongoing concerns about border tensions with Cambodia, hoping the new government will resolve border conflicts and reduce the need for potential evacuations.