Know this before voting

By JINTANA PANYAARVUDH 
THE NATION

 

An Election Commission staff member stands by a replica ballot booth at a voter- awareness event in Nonthaburi last year.

 

IN LESS than two months, and for the first time in eight years, voters will be heading to the polling booths to decide the country’s fate.

 

Here are the new rules under the current Constitution that everybody should know about: 

 

 

Mixed-Member Apportionment (MMA) electoral system

 

There are 350 constituency seats and 150 party-list seats up for grabs this election. Voters will cast a single ballot for a constituency candidate that will also count as a vote for that candidate’s party and be tallied in apportioning party-list seats. 

 

The total number of votes a party receives will determine the total number seats it gains in Parliament in a combination of constituency seats and party-list seats. 

 

Same party different number

 

Candidates from the same party will not run under the same number. Since it is a single-ballot electoral system, each candidate will have his or her own number. Voters can memorise the number of their preferred constituency candidate. The poll ballot will show the numbers of each candidate, along with their party names and logos.

 

 

Prime minister candidate list

 

The next prime minister may not necessarily come from among the elected MPs, but they must be nominated as candidates and be in the PM nomination list from political parties. Each party can submit up to three names to the Election Commission. 

 

Voters cannot directly cast a ballot for their favoured PM candidate, as the premier will only be chosen jointly by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

 

Voting for a PM

 

The 250 senators handpicked by the National Council for Peace and Order will join the 350 members of the House of Representatives to choose the next PM from lists submitted by parties that have won at least 5 per cent of the Lower House. The prospective premier needs at least 376 votes. 

 

 

Outsider or non-list PM

 

If the joint meeting fails to pick a PM, more than half of the members of both Houses – or 376 – can submit a joint petition to the Parliament’s president requesting that the assembly pass a resolution exempting them from being limited to party lists in choosing a PM. 

 

To pass the exemption, it needs at least two-thirds of the total number of members present in both Houses – or 500 votes.

 

An “outsider”, who is not on a party list, will be eligible to become the next PM if 376 votes can be garnered from both Houses.

 

 

‘Vote No’ 

 

Although the “vote no” option is not new to Thai voters, it will be a meaningful and powerful weapon during this election. 

 

If the “vote no” casts are higher than the number of votes won by the winner in a constituency, a new round of voting is required. All votes in that constituency will be nullified and candidates barred from running again in the new election. 

 

 

Poll watch

 

As many as 413 election inspectors in 77 provinces will be in charge of monitoring officers or staff in each polling unit, along with investigating actions deemed to be fraudulent or violating election laws. They will submit their findings to the Election Commission (EC). These inspectors were appointed by the EC to replace the provincial election commissioners. 

 

 

Ballot casting time 

 

Voters will have more time to cast their ballot, as polling booths will be open from 8am to 5pm, two hours longer than previous elections. 

 

Helping hand

 

The elderly and disabled will be allowed to take their relative, trusted person or an officer to the polling booth to help cast their ballot for them. 

 

 

Special power

 

The election will be held under a junta government that retained special powers under Article 44 of the post-coup interim charter and is also guaranteed under the current Constitution. Hence, NCPO chief Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is eligible to issue any order under this power, including nullifying or cancelling the election in the event of an unexpected incidence. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30364298

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-18

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

NCPO chief Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is eligible to issue any order under this power, including nullifying or cancelling the election in the event of an unexpected incidence. 

Normally, I am not a gambling man. But, I'm thinking this might be a sure bet...

"...The election will be held under a junta government that retained special powers under Article 44 of the post-coup interim charter and is also guaranteed under the current Constitution. Hence, NCPO chief Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is eligible to issue any order under this power, including nullifying or cancelling the election in the event of an unexpected incidence..." 

 

Hmm...

 

Does Prayut not becoming/remaining Prime Minister constitute an "unexpected incidence"?

 

It seems like a valid question to ask...

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

An “outsider”, who is not on a party list, will be eligible to become the next PM if 376 votes can be garnered from both Houses.

this is the opening for the military; self-created of course, if this whole house of cards topples then they step in, asserting 'national security', and we are worse than where we are now due to the wild-card uncertainty at that point

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

If he gets votes by the KG then he's a sure winner

No idea why farangs must read this we dont vote?

Does the winning party get to keep article 44 or can it invent one of its own ? Very useful tool to have in the box.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

An “outsider”, who is not on a party list, will be eligible to become the next PM if 376 votes can be garnered from both Houses.

Interesting...does this mean that Prayuth, now a party list candidate, can not become PM through the 'outsider PM' route?

Hard to see the un- and under-educated population of Thailand coping with the complexities of all that when they enter the polling booth. My MIL can't even sign her name (just a thumb print). Most of the rest of the family can barely read 3 words. Will their votes count? or be counted?

 

Looks very like the Australian proportional preferential voting systems, carefully designed to prevent the poorest & least educated 10% of the population from casting a valid vote ...

There will be "help" at the polls, as per usual. Vote early, vote often.

56 minutes ago, legend49 said:

No idea why farangs must read this we dont vote?

You will do when he says all farangs need 10 million baht a month to stay here. 

1 hour ago, legend49 said:

No idea why farangs must read this we dont vote?

We don't have to read it. You don't have to read it. Just ignore and move on. Next!

I read it because I care about the destiny of the Thai people.

And I care how my retirement future will be affected. Plainly obvious, the junta don't see value in long term stayers. We're not wanted (by the junta).

All around the world we celebrate democracy as those elected do their best to sabotage and weaken the system. 

Even those not elected. 

29 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Hard to see the un- and under-educated population of Thailand coping with the complexities of all that when they enter the polling booth. My MIL can't even sign her name (just a thumb print). Most of the rest of the family can barely read 3 words. Will their votes count? or be counted?

 

Looks very like the Australian proportional preferential voting systems, carefully designed to prevent the poorest & least educated 10% of the population from casting a valid vote ...

Would you like to explain how the Australian system is designed to prevent the poorest and least educated from casting a valid vote. Looking forward to your considered response. 

Where can I cast my ballot? 

I think they mean General election. 

.....or else!!!

44 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Hard to see the un- and under-educated population of Thailand coping with the complexities of all that when they enter the polling booth. My MIL can't even sign her name (just a thumb print). Most of the rest of the family can barely read 3 words. Will their votes count? or be counted?

 

Looks very like the Australian proportional preferential voting systems, carefully designed to prevent the poorest & least educated 10% of the population from casting a valid vote ...

If what you say is true why would they make voting compulsory? Not sure you have thought this through. 

1 hour ago, legend49 said:

No idea why farangs must read this we dont vote?

Strictly for the entertainment value of watching this epic charade continue.

22 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

All around the world we celebrate democracy as those elected do their best to sabotage and weaken the system. 

Even those not elected. 

As, due to the new constitution and Article 44, Prayuth is more or less guaranteed to become the next Prime Minister, backed by a senate loaded with his supporters.

 

Democracy? Not even close. No sign of democracy coming to Thailand in the foreseeable future.

1 hour ago, SABloke said:

Interesting...does this mean that Prayuth, now a party list candidate, can not become PM through the 'outsider PM' route?

Might Article 44 be invoked - for the security of the nation - to waive this requirement with good intentions?

All perfectly legal.

31 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

If what you say is true why would they make voting compulsory? Not sure you have thought this through. 

Voting is one thing. Casting a valid vote - one that will be counted in the election outcome - is another.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The 250 senators handpicked by the National Council for Peace and Order will join the 350 members of the House of Representatives to choose the next PM from lists submitted by parties that have won at least 5 per cent of the Lower House. The prospective premier needs at least 376 votes. 

Error here on the 350 lower house elected members. Should be 500. Therefore the selection grade is at least 376 from a combined houses of 750. 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

An “outsider”, who is not on a party list, will be eligible to become the next PM if 376 votes can be garnered from both Houses.

Another dirty junta trick that will allow Prayut to be eligible if he failed in the party nomination selection. He gets a second chance as an "outsider". 

 

Really a despicable and corrupt person not worthy of high office. 

So in summary , makes no difference who you vote for because if NCPO does not approve or like the winning party they can nullify the results.

 

just as it makes no difference even if not nulified as 250 pre chosen can block anything and everything .

 

happy voting ????

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Know this before voting

There will never be an election  

The one who's gonna win the election is the one who pays the most money on votes. Around here they are going around drumming up votes ,,, some offer THB500 some offer THB 2000 ,,,, people are being asked to vote for them to get the money . Some places got 5/6 people  who can vote, You go Figure who they vote for.  ????

1 hour ago, Pravda said:

Where can I cast my ballot? 

In the garbage bin?

Wow, didn't realise it was 8 years since the pubs had been shut for polling day. There's a lot to be said for military governments/ one party states.

Strange guys. It is neither your country nor your election ,so stop being an A.H

3 hours ago, legend49 said:

No idea why farangs must read this we dont vote?

Yes that's right, and whatever outcome from this election, military (Army) will always have the main power , it's documented in the constitution , if someone try to change , there will be a new coup again !!!!!!

2 hours ago, Artisi said:

Would you like to explain how the Australian system is designed to prevent the poorest and least educated from casting a valid vote. Looking forward to your considered response. 

It has a complicated history & I'm not about to type out a 3-page history lesson. You can look at Wikipedia for that. Three points:

(1) At the federal level - and no doubt at State level as federal practice spread across all States & territories - for the first 80 years (roughly 1920-2000) preferential voting favoured right-of-centre parties because there were 2 or 3 such parties. That's why preferential voting was introduced in the first place in 1918 & the 1920s. [All that of course quite apart from the much greater mathematical 'fairness' of preferential over first-past-the-post voting.]

 

(2) And it was the right-of-centre parties that, from the 1970s to 1990s, refused all moves to simplify the Senate proportional preferential voting system. And there's not much doubt why that was so. Once the changes were made by an ALP government, the heavens did not fall (contrary to conservatives' expectations).

 

(3) Ironically at present the system favours the ALP (left-of-centre) because of the multiple small lefty parties & assorted ratbag 'independents'.

 

In politics, as in life, perfection is a counsel of despair.