All of them said they prepared themselves to face legal action and already arranged money to bail themselves out.

Songkhla has had the biggest number of the voters tearing up the ballots in the Sunday's repeated election with seven voters, while Phuket has four.

In Songkhla, four women acted like ordinary voters at a constituency 1 polling station, checking their names and receiving the ballot papers. Then in front of cheering supporters, they tore up the ballots at the same time.

The four were identified as Pranee Weerawong, 63, Jintana Jindewa, 45, Sa-ard Jindewa, 64 and Walai Yontprasert, 55.

Another woman, identified as Sumol Tula, 51, did the same at a nearby polling unit. Police then arrested the group and took them to a police station.

"This is not democracy," they shouted as police hauled people away.

According to electoral laws, punishment for tearing up ballot papers is not over one year in jail and a fine of Bt20,000.

They were released on bail after placing Bt20,000 in cash each as guarantee.

Pranee, a fried chickens seller, told reporters that she was not afraid of being arrested. "If I feared, I would not have done that." She was confident that to tear up the ballot paper is not against the laws.

She said she is ready to fight for her case in the court. "I did not like Thaksin regime as it has made people poorer. The richer are those who have close connection with Thaksin."

Thaksin has sold out the country to Singapore, she claimed.

In Phuket, five voters separately tore up the ballots in protest of the Thaksin regime.

They were identified as Krit Thepbamrung, Boonchai Jarassri, 54, Sommart Mankid, 39, Wikrom Isarangkul and Sonchai Rittichai, 29.

They then were escorted to police stations nearby to be charged.

Meanwhile in Chumphon, two men were arrested for the same charges. They were identified as Nikhom Chuwajjana, 63, and Yong Yungponkhan, 71.

Two other men in Surat Thani, Ponthep Chantongkaew, 32 and Sawaeng Klingpong, 72, who tore up the ballot papers at a polling station were charged of destroying official document.

In Yala, a businessman was arrested for tearing up a ballot paper.

Saringkan Chuwongwut, 66, was arrested at a polling station in Muang district after tearing up the ballot paper at 10:05 am in the second round of election.

He said he wanted to join the Rak Songkhla group in Songkhal to protest against the Election Commission .

He was released on bail after placing cash worth Bt20,000 as guarantee.

The voting was Thailand's second national election this month, and second attempt to fill the 500-seat parliament. Thaksin had called a snap parliamentary poll on April 2 after weeks of street protests demanding he step down for alleged corruption and abuse of power.