Thailand goes to polls

There are new ballot sheets and vote-counting methods

By the BBC's Clare Arthurs in Bangkok

In Thailand, people are voting in the first general election under a new anti-corruption constitution.

Early results are expected late on Saturday, with official results likely late on Sunday.

Thai voters check over candidates lists

It's widely expected that the winner will be Thai Rak Thai, the party established by the tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra.

But he goes into the poll with a corruption charge hanging over him which has eroded some of his support.

And at least one party has already indicated it won't help him form a coalition government.

Alcohol ban

Police in Thailand are enforcing a ban on alcohol and gambling on the election results until after the polls close on Saturday.

Mr Thaksin has been indicted by the anti-corruption body

It's an effort to take some of the heat out of this campaign.

The poll has been marked by allegations of vote buying and intimidation.

A fourth candidate has been disqualified after the Electoral Commission issued a red card, finding he had promised to pay half his salary to a village fund in return for voter support.

Cash for votes

Election officials will be busy during and after the poll investigating a raft of complaints of cash for votes.

A woman casts her ballot in advance voting for those unable to return home

Police turned out in force during absentee polling last week and they will be on the look out on Saturday for cheats.

It's not just the efforts to end electoral fraud which make this election worth watching.

The man tipped to be the next prime minister, Mr Thaksin, was found guilty of hiding his assets by the National Counter Corruption Commission in late December.

The Senate has been looking into the qualifications of the people who ruled against Mr Thaskin, while he has appealed to the Constitutional Court to overturn the finding.

Unclear outcome

Even if Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party wins the election, he could be tossed out by the court's ruling. And it's not clear how he'll form a government.

The incumbent Democrat-lead government is still talking up the possibility of retaining its coalition agreements, while at least one of the coalition parties, Chart Pattana, has ruled out a deal with Thai Rak Thai.

And there's also the question of a high proportion of undecided voters.

What this all means for the political reform process, as well as efforts to rebuild the Thai economy, will preoccupy election watchers in the coming days.