I thought I read somewhere that Thais will, yet again, be required to return to their home provinces to vote for the new senate(?) sometime in March, but that they can register to vote in their province of residence by the 30th January - anyone can confirm please?

I think the Thais are only allowed to vote for 76 senators. The rest will be appointed by the military, I mean an independent commission.

I think the Thais are only allowed to vote for 76 senators. The rest will be appointed by the military, I mean an independent commission.

I'm sorry, I don't seem to have made myself very clear. I wasn't asking for how many senators, buffaloes, bar girls or boys in brown, I was asking if the Thai people are to be required to go all the way back to their home provinces, possibly in March of this year, to vote again? Thankyou.

I think the Thais are only allowed to vote for 76 senators. The rest will be appointed by the military, I mean an independent commission.

I'm sorry, I don't seem to have made myself very clear. I wasn't asking for how many senators, buffaloes, bar girls or boys in brown, I was asking if the Thai people are to be required to go all the way back to their home provinces, possibly in March of this year, to vote again? Thankyou.

No, there will be no requirement for voting, it is optional.

I think the Thais are only allowed to vote for 76 senators. The rest will be appointed by the military, I mean an independent commission.

I'm sorry, I don't seem to have made myself very clear. I wasn't asking for how many senators, buffaloes, bar girls or boys in brown, I was asking if the Thai people are to be required to go all the way back to their home provinces, possibly in March of this year, to vote again? Thankyou.

No, there will be no requirement for voting, it is optional.

Thankyou.

Actually Voting in an election is not optional, and whilst the penalties for not voting are not particularly serious, eg not being able to stand in an election (National or Provincial), it is still a requirement under the Constitution.

Constitution of Thailand BE 2550 (2007)

Section 72. Every person has a duty to exercise their right to vote in an election

I am not sure of the time for registration, but according to the Election Commission, Advance voting is scheduled to take place on February 23-24, so your 30th Jan deadline does sound about right.

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...amp;id=30063381

Actually Voting in an election is not optional, and whilst the penalties for not voting are not particularly serious, eg not being able to stand in an election (National or Provincial), it is still a requirement under the Constitution.

Constitution of Thailand BE 2550 (2007)

Section 72. Every person has a duty to exercise their right to vote in an election

I am not sure of the time for registration, but according to the Election Commission, Advance voting is scheduled to take place on February 23-24, so your 30th Jan deadline does sound about right.

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...amp;id=30063381

Yesss, came to me afterwards that Thais always very concerned must go back 'home' to actually vote, as if they don't, they get a black mark against them. So although in principal 'optional', in fact not.

However, just informed spouse who said 'buea, mai bpai' and when reminded of Black Mark, was informed 'mai sonchai'. And really, who can blame them?

I think the Thais are only allowed to vote for 76 senators. The rest will be appointed by the military, I mean an independent commission.

I'm sorry, I don't seem to have made myself very clear. I wasn't asking for how many senators, buffaloes, bar girls or boys in brown, I was asking if the Thai people are to be required to go all the way back to their home provinces, possibly in March of this year, to vote again? Thankyou.

No, there will be no requirement for voting, it is optional.

Actually Voting in an election is not optional, and whilst the penalties for not voting are not particularly serious, eg not being able to stand in an election (National or Provincial), it is still a requirement under the Constitution.

Constitution of Thailand BE 2550 (2007)

Section 72. Every person has a duty to exercise their right to vote in an election

I am not sure of the time for registration, but according to the Election Commission, Advance voting is scheduled to take place on February 23-24, so your 30th Jan deadline does sound about right.

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...amp;id=30063381

Thank you for the setting the record straight with the honest answer, slimdog.

Related and relevant threads for the OP:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=160463

New Senate Election Date Set For March 2

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=161600

Parliamentary Election To Be Held On March 2nd

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=124413

The New Senate Will Consist Of 150 Members, to be comprised of 76 elected and 74 selected

<br />Actually Voting in an election is not optional, and whilst the penalties for not voting are not particularly serious, eg not being able to stand in an election (National or Provincial), it is still a requirement under the Constitution.<br /><br /><b>Constitution of Thailand BE 2550</b> (2007)<br />Section 72. Every person has a duty to exercise their right to vote in an election<br /><br />I am not sure of the time for registration, but according to the Election Commission, Advance voting is scheduled to take place on February 23-24, so your 30th Jan deadline does sound about right.<br /><br />source: <a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.news.php?clid=5&id=30063381" target="_blank">http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...amp;id=30063381</a><br />

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Whats the bloody point when the military step in an out like the okey cokey? Do some Thais really vote or does the village elder tell them how to vote?

<br />Actually Voting in an election is not optional, and whilst the penalties for not voting are not particularly serious, eg not being able to stand in an election (National or Provincial), it is still a requirement under the Constitution.<br /><br /><b>Constitution of Thailand BE 2550</b> (2007)<br />Section 72. Every person has a duty to exercise their right to vote in an election<br /><br />I am not sure of the time for registration, but according to the Election Commission, Advance voting is scheduled to take place on February 23-24, so your 30th Jan deadline does sound about right.<br /><br />source: <a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.news.php?clid=5&id=30063381" target="_blank">http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...amp;id=30063381</a><br />

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Whats the bloody point when the military step in an out like the okey cokey? Do some Thais really vote or does the village elder tell them how to vote?

well senate 'mai geeo'

after all 'mai geeo gor loot'

anyhow, most Thais in the big cities vote for who they think. Most rural Thais vote for who pays them the most; TRT were the first party (in returning to power the 2nd time) to actually get people to vote for them because they liked them.

Obviously, however, paying off the village headmen and teachers and all other respected figures in each community with free SIM cards and money and the 1m baht per village didn't hurt either. PPP were able to continue that success.

Because, it has to be said, the brain power in rural Thailand is limited to what they are taught and told. And without a free media under TRT, and with free media massively swayed under the military, they haven't got any frigging clue about what they are really voting for.

Senate is supposed to be non partisan; of course TRT completely undid that check and balance pre coup anyway by buying them all off. That's why the new check and balance of non elected senators is in place. Let's recall that the house of lords is not elected either...the concept of the senate is something along those lines. Only hopefully not quite as old and doddery. We can have the PM for old and doddery instead.