Tight security for Thai by-election

BANGKOK, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Security was tight Sunday as Thai voters went to the polls for a do-over of a parliamentary election in Chai Nat.

More than 800 police officers were on hand for the by-election, the Thai News Agency reported.

Two Chart Thai party candidates who won in the Dec. 23 general election in Constituency No. 1 in Chai Nat province were later disqualified by the Election Commission, making the by-election necessary.

Sumet Singkaravanich, the head of the commission in Chai Nat, expected turnout to be down significantly from the general election, when more than 85 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. He predicted it would be about 70 percent.

Chai Nat province is in central Thailand about 120 miles north of Bangkok. It is best known for having the largest bird park in Asia, just outside Chai Nat city. The park was developed in the 1980s to provide a tourist attraction for the province.