KANDAL: Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany went to the polls at the Hun Sen Primary School in Kandal Province’s Takhmao City, this morning, July 23.

The Prime Minister and First Lady arrived at about 7:15 am, followed the election procedures, then promptly left after taking photos with people outside of the polling station. He did not make any comments, as Cambodia considers today and yesterday “white days” during which there is no campaigning or political promotion.

International observers from countries like Russia, Pakistan and Guinea-Bissau were present at the polling station this morning. The observers will be monitoring the election all day and so far they have praised the process and appreciated the need for democracy in Cambodia.

About 9.7 million Cambodians are registered to vote today in the 7th National Assembly Election. More than half of the registered voters in this election are women and voter turnout is expected to be high based on the persistent encouragement of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the measures he has put in place such as buses to transport people to their hometowns and requesting employers to give their workers three days off to vote from July 22-24.

^{PHOTO: chheang Sear}