BANGKOK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- About 1,500 early-voting ballots from New Zealand could not be counted due to late delivery, said Thailand's Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong on Tuesday.

The ballots cast on March 17 by Thai nationals in New Zealand and contained in a diplomatic pouch of the Thai embassy in Wellington could not be counted since they arrived in Thailand behind schedule, according to the chairman.

The ballots were supposed to arrive at the polling units in various constituencies throughout the country by 5:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.

The polling agency has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the delay within seven days.