The Bangkok Post reported Sunday that a survey by Thammasat University indicates voters' decisions were based more on policy choices than Thaksin's influence.

About 62 percent of respondents said Thaksin had nothing to do with their decisions on whom to support. The poll also showed that 66 percent of respondents said they voted for candidates based on their party's policies.

About 20 percent of the more than 26,900 respondents in 65 provinces said they voted for certain candidates because they liked Thaksin, while 18 percent said they voted for candidates who opposed the former prime minister.

The poll also found that vote-buying had a minimal effect on the election outcome, with 77 percent saying they would still vote for their preferred candidate even though they did not receive any cash for their vote.