Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Bangkok, said that up to 85 percent of those registered to vote may turnout for the election, according to projections. People were queueing to vote when polling stations opened on Sunday morning and now they are eagerly awaiting the vote count to start.

“They are waiting for the moment when the polls close and the count begins. And I think this is something we are seeing all across the country. Many people, both official election observers and just locals, wanting to see that the [count] process is carried out as efficiently as possible,” Cheng said.

“They’ve cast their ballots, they want to make sure that when the ballot boxes are closed and the election officials come to start that count, that everything is clear and above board,” he said.

Voting is proceeding smoothly in the Thai capital, Bangkok, with local officials in several districts reporting a high turnout.

In central Bangkok, a city hall official said each of the five voting booths at the Mater Dei school was handling 600-800 voters, making the process quick and efficient.

Another official in the Phra Khanong area said more than 80 percent of those eligible to vote at her polling booth had voted by midday.

Voters in Bangkok who spoke to Al Jazeera expressed high hopes for change.

“Much depends on the turnout,” said 35-year-old Patharamon, who gave only her first name. “If we pick the right leader for the country, everyone will jump out of the stagnation that we have been facing in the past eight years,” she told Al Jazeera.

In the nearby Watha Na district, Mallika Sriboonreung, 60, said most of her neighbourhood had cast their votes by midday.

“I came to vote because I wish for a better person to run the country. The atmosphere is exciting this year,” she said.

Thailand’s Election Commission projects a voter turnout of more than 80 percent, with polls scheduled to close at 5pm (10:00 GMT) and unofficial results expected by 10pm (15:00 GMT), Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said, according to the Reuters news agency.

Approximately 52 million eligible voters in Thailand are choosing among progressive opposition parties and others allied with royalist, military generals who want to preserve the status quo after nearly a decade of governments led or backed by the Thai army.

In Pattaya, the eastern resort city where billions of dollars are earmarked for high-speed trains and a new airport, young and old – some in wheelchairs – queued to vote.

Residents said it was the largest turnout at an election they can remember.

“It’s a great turnout so far … people just want to see change and a new government,” said Sontaya Kunplome, a candidate for the Pheu Thai party.

Voters said they wanted real change this time.

“I want to see the end of the patronage system … you can’t get a bed in a hospital unless you’re connected, forget about getting good care. I want to see things getting better and that taxpayers are well taken care of,” said Somboon Taengsee, a 57-year-old housewife.

People are fed up with the current government, said Charnchai Sensri, 57, a restaurant owner in Koh Lahn, a resort island off Pattaya.

“I want the economy and tourism to be better. This is a tourist city but without tourists, it affects us all.”

Reporting by Vijitra Duangdee in Pattaya.

Tyrell Haberkorn, a Thai studies specialist at the University of Wisconsin, says the youth vote is key to the election.

“The increased youth vote and general awareness of the damage caused by military rule are key factors likely to determine the results of this election,” Haberkorn told The Associated Press news agency.

“After nine years of military rule, people are ready for a change, even those who were not interested in rocking the boat before.”

This election is the first in Thailand since a youth-led uprising in 2020 that broke long-held taboos by calling for curbs on the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, as well as an end to a near-decade of military-backed rule.

Voters are expected to deliver a strong mandate for change.

But it is not clear if the opposition parties — projected to win a majority — will be allowed to form a government.

Find out why here.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai’s top prime ministerial candidate, has also cast her ballot at a polling station in Bangkok.

“Today’s going to be a good day. I feel very positive about it,” she told reporters afterwards.

“Even though the weather is very hot, everyone is still coming out to vote. Thank you for that,” she added.

The secretary general of the Election Commission says his office has not received any polling-related complaints since voting began.

“If voters find any wrongdoing at the polling station, please report to us, with details of that booth,” Sawaeng Boonmee said in brief comments to reporters.

He said the commission had received 163 complaints ahead of voting day, including allegations of bribery. “Compared to other elections, this is still not that many,” he said.

Boonmee added that all members of the public were welcome to observe the vote-counting process when polling stations close.

A 72-year-old man receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of a hospital in Bangkok did not let his condition prevent him from exercising his right to vote.

Kitti Kochanan, rigged to an oxygen tank, showed up at his polling station in a wheelchair to cast his ballot, according to a video posted online by the Thai PBS broadcaster.

“I may be sick physically, but I do t want to lose my right to vote. I want to encourage all Thais to vote,” Kitti said afterwards.

Doctors were on site to help in case of an emergency, Thai PBS reported.

Pita Limjaroenrat, who heads the progressive MFP, has cast his vote in Bangkok.

The 42-year-old businessman has emerged as the public’s favoured candidate for the post of prime minister, while his youth-led party is expected to win the second-highest number of seats in parliament.

He told reporters that voting at his polling station had gone “smoothly”.

“Hopefully, the entire country will respect the desire of the people,” he added.

“Personally, I am confident and happy to be using my right as a citizen to vote.”

Electoral authorities have said they expect a record turnout of more than 80 percent in Sunday’s vote.

This is higher than the 75 percent turnout recorded by the commission in the last general election in 2019.

Voting is now under way in Thailand’s general election.

The first voters of the day included one of Pheu Thai’s three prime ministerial candidates, Srettha Thavisin. He cast his ballot in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

The first unofficial results will start trickling in within hours of polls closing.

The Elections Commission said on Thursday results from the 95,000 polling stations nationwide will be compiled, verified and published on its website from 7pm local time (12:00 GMT) onwards on voting day.

The commission expects unofficial results to be known by 11pm (16:00 GMT) the same evening.

Here is a link to the commission’s website.

Sunday’s election will be the latest bout in a long-running battle between parties backed by a royalist-military establishment and a pro-democratic opposition, including one with a track record of winning every election in the past two decades.

Pheu Thai, a party linked to the self-exiled billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, has a big lead in opinion polls, as it did in previous elections.

It is followed by another opposition party, Move Forward (MFP), which is has galvanised voters with taboo-breaking promises of monarchy and military reforms.

Pheu Thai’s top nominee for prime minister is Thaksin’s 36-year-old daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The party has also named prominent businessman Srettha Thavisin as a second candidate.

MFP’s sole candidate is 42-year-old businessman Pita Limjaroenrat.

They will go up against two parties led by former army chiefs involved in coups, incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of the newly formed United Thai Nation Party, and his mentor Prawit Wongsuwan of the ruling Palang Pracharat Party.

Find out more about the top contenders here.

Pheu Thai party

• Target economic growth of 5 percent each year.
• Offer 10,000 baht ($296) handouts via digital wallets for those aged 16 and over to spend in their communities.
• Raise daily minimum wage to 600 baht (from an average of 337 baht) and minimum monthly salaries for university graduates to 25,000 baht ($740) by 2027.
• Help every family earn at least 20,000 baht ($592) per month.
• Triple average income of farmers to 30,000 baht ($888) per rai (0.16 hectare) per year by 2027.
• Upgrade universal healthcare programme.
• One tablet computer per student and per teacher with free internet.

Move Forward party

• New constitution law, reform of armed forces.
• Raise daily minimum wage to 450 baht ($13), with yearly revisions.
• Increase monthly allowance for elderly to 3,000 baht ($89) by 2027.
• Reduce electricity costs, renegotiate power purchasing contracts with concessionaires.
• Fixed bus and urban rail fares.
• Fee internet of 1 GB per month.
• Legalise casinos and online betting run by the state.

United Thai Nation Party

• Increase monthly grants via state welfare cards to 1,000 baht ($30) per person and offer emergency loans of up to 10,000 baht ($296).
• Monthly allowance for elderly of 1,000 baht ($30).
• Reduce electricity bills for low-income earners and farmers.
• Emergency fund of 30 billion baht ($886m) for vulnerable groups.
• Subsidies for domestic travel, co-payment scheme to buy goods or services.
• Allow borrowers to repay some state loans, such as student loans, by working for the public sector.
• Crop harvesting subsidy.

Prayuth Chan-ocha, who first came to power in a coup in 2014, is one of Thailand’s longest-serving prime ministers.

He is seeking re-election again, though constitutional term limits mean he can only remain in the top job for two more years.

But the 69-year-old’s United Thai Nation Party is trailing in the polls, coming in at a distant third in opinion surveys behind the main opposition Pheu Thai and the youth-led Move Forward Party.

It has about 8 percent support, which could translate into about 40-50 seats.

A similar fraction of the public said they favoured Prayuth for the prime minister job, according to a large-scale survey conducted by The Nation paper.

• About 52 million Thais are eligible in Sunday’s vote with four million heading to the ballot box for the first time.
• A total of 500 seats are up for grabs in the lower house of parliament – 400 are constituency seats with the remaining 100 seats distributed in proportion to each party’s overall share of the vote.
• Voters will be given two ballots, one for their local constituency and the other for their preferred party on a national level.
• Some 70 parties are taking part in the election.
• More than 2 million people registered for advance voting on May 7. Election officials reported a turnout of 91 percent on that day.

The main political parties wrapped up weeks of campaigning with mass rallies at stadiums and halls in and near Bangkok on Friday.

Supporters dressed up in the colours of their parties and tried to grab selfies with party leaders, while some leaders tried to get selfies with the crowd.

There were rousing speeches and a party-like atmosphere.

Soak in the atmosphere in this photo gallery.