Leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had called on the public to tear up their ballots, tick the "no vote" option and dress in black for the second round election.

In Songkhla and Phuket, 12 voters tore up their ballot papers saying they were prepared to face legal action and had already arranged money for their bail.

Songkhla had the highest number of the voters tearing up their ballots yesterday with seven, while Phuket had five.

In Songkhla, five women acted like ordinary voters at a constituency 1 polling station, checking their names and receiving the ballot papers before tearing them up at the same time in front of cheering supporters.

The five were identified as Pranee Weerawong, 63, Jintana Jindewa, 45, Sa-ard Jindewa, 64, Walai Yontprasert, 55 and Sumol Tula, 51. Police arrested the group and took them to a police station.

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

They were released on bail of Bt20,000 in cash.

Pranee, a fried-chicken seller, said she was not afraid of being arrested. "If I feared it, I would not have done it," she said. She was confident that tearing up the ballot paper was not against the law.

Pranee said she was ready to fight her case in the court. "I do not like the Thaksin regime as it has made people poorer. The richer are those who have close connections with Thaksin."

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

Kriansak Liewcharoenpattana, a university lecturer in Songkhla, tore up his ballot papers at a polling station in Hat Yai district saying he wanted to protest against the Election Commission.

He said he knew he could not vote in an election for five years, but it was worth it to call for a return to democracy.

The crowd cheered after he tore up his papers.

Nikorn Yodnookhun, another Songkhla voter, was arrested at the ballot station after he tore up his papers.

Songkhla election commission director Paitoon Jehhae said he would launch a campaign to warn people that destroying ballot papers was against the law.

In Phuket, five voters tore up their papers in protest at the Thaksin regime.

They were identified as Krit Thepbamrung, 45, Boonchai Jarasrassami, 54, Sommart Mankid, 39, Wikrom Isarangkura na Ayudhya,42 and Sonchai Rittichai, 29.

They were taken to a local police station to be charged.

Krit said he decided to destroy his paper because he disagreed with the election, of which there had been too many lately. "First, I thought I would mark 'no vote', but that is meaningless, so I changed my mind and tore them up instead," he said.

Two men in Surat Thani province were arrested after they destroyed their papers. Pornthep Janthongkaew, 32, was arrested shortly after tearing up his ballot at a polling station in Khirirat Nikhom district. Sawaeng Klinpong, 72, was arrested at another polling station in the same district.

In Yala, businessman Saringkan Chuwongwut, 66, said after destroying his paper at a polling station in Muang district that he wanted to express his love for his city like the Rak Songkhla group in Songkhla who protested against the Election Commission.

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

Chumphon resident Nikhom Choowattana, 63, a former headman, said he tore up his paper because he was displeased with the EC, which he felt was not a neutral body.

Election Commission secretary-general Ekkachai Warunprapha yesterday warned voters who tore up their ballots that not only was it against the election law but it also had an effect on their future.

"It is a criminal case and it can have an effect on [a person] seeking a new job. Moreover, their right to vote will be withdrawn for five years," he said.

"If you oppose the election you can mark 'no vote', not tear up the paper," he said.

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