Thailand casts vote in key election

Balloting system undergoes major revamp as citizens look for change

Polls for Thailand's general election closed on Sunday after a smooth vote at the 95,000 polling stations across the country. The election is widely seen as a turning point for a country that has undergone a major change in its election system.

Sunday's voting began at 8 am with about 52 million people casting their ballots to elect 500 members of the lower house of parliament, with about two million voting in early May.

Voting closed at 5 pm, with the Election Commission earlier projecting a turnout of 80 percent, Reuters reported.