Major Thai political figures vote in referendum on draft constitution

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra shows her ballot paper during the referendum on a draft constitution at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand, August 7, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

Yingluck Shinawatra, former prime minister whose Pheu Thai party government was toppled in the 2014 coup, said she is happy that she is still eligible to vote, and is waiting for the outcome after she voted.

She has been charged with criminal negligence over her management of a rice subsidy scheme, and just defended herself in the Supreme Court on Friday.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, former prime minister and the leader of Democrat Party said after he voted that "no matter what the outcome is, everyone have to help each other to make Thailand step forward."

Both Yingluck and Abhisit called for everyone eligible to participate in the process to decide the future of the kingdom. They both expressed their disapproval of the draft constitution earlier.

Cabinet members of Prayut, other prominent figures of the two major parties, and Suthep Thaugsuban, who led the protest against Yingluck's government from 2013 to 2014 that paved the way for the 2014 coup, also came out to vote and call for more people to participate.

The voting process will last for 8 hours as all polling stations will be closed for voting at 4 p.m. (0900 GMT). The unofficial results will be known before 9 p.m. (1400 GMT), according to the Election Commission.

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