Pokemon Go banned in polling stations during Thailand referendum

Bangkok: A member of the Thai Election Commission asked people to avoid playing Pokemon Go near polling stations and said it was illegal to go inside the stations to catch Pokemons.

The popular game app was launched here on Saturday.

"In occasions that rare Pokemons emerge in any polling station, please stop playing it near these stations," Xinhua news agency quoted Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, a member of the Election Commission, as saying.

He also asked people to avoid making any trouble in front of the stations if they have to play it.

Somchai emphasised that it was against the Referendum Act that one goes into any polling station just to play the game.

He said it was also illegal to sell, distribute any kind of alcoholic drink to people as well as inviting them to drink it from 18.00 of August 6 to 24.00 of August 7.

Somchai also warned earlier that people cannot take selfie while casting their votes.

National referendum on Thailand's 2016 draft constitution and its additional question begins at 8 a.m. (local time) on Sunday. There are around 94,000 polling stations across the country.

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