Thai Electoral Laws Are Amended

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Electoral laws are amended

By Kornchanok Raksaseri

MPs pass three organic laws; Senate approval by April 22 latest

The passing of three organic laws yesterday signalled that the elections are coming closer.

The proposed changes for the upcoming elections include cutting down the days for advance voting from two to one, as well as requiring that requests be filed in advance for casting an early ballot. The changes also include allowing a sole candidate to become an MP if he or she gets less than 20 per cent of the votes, even if the number is less than the abstained ballots in the constituency.

The laws were approved unanimously with 354:0 votes, while two MPs abstained and four MPs did not vote.

The amended laws, related to the election of MPs, senators, political parties and the Election Commission, are expected to be taken to the Senate on Monday and should be passed by April 22 at the latest, Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij said.

CONCERNS VOICED

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would call for House dissolution by the first week of May. Meanwhile, some EC members have voiced concerns and refused to issue guidelines for the upcoming polls until the related acts are passed by the Parliament.

The new laws are needed now that a Constitution amendment requires that constituencies be made smaller and there be just one MP instead of several. The overall number of MPs has also been changed from 400 constituency and 80 party-list MPs to 375 constituency and 125 party-list MPs.

In the House yesterday, both government and opposition MPs voiced concerns that advance voting would open the door to more electoral fraud.

It would give politicians more of a chance to canvass for votes and give candidates the additional burden of having to hire people to guard the advance ballot boxes to prevent changes being made to ballot cards. The MPs were discussing the balance between the people's rights and their own political rights.

The legislators eventually agreed to cut down the period allowed for advance voting to one day instead of the current two days. They also said that stricter rules and measures be put in place for voters casting their ballots in advance.

LIFTING MINIMUM REQUIREMENT

Meanwhile, another proposed change to the election laws was to lift the minimum 20-per-cent vote requirement for sole MP candidates in a constituency.

The EC and the committee vetting the changes agreed to make an exception if a constituency had only one registered candidate, and if this candidate had tried several times and could still get no more than 20 per cent of the votes or got fewer than the abstained ballots.

However, MPs such as Rachadaporn Kaewsanit and Boonyod Suktinthai disagreed with this exception.

Rachadaporn said MPs should not be given their position too easily, otherwise the candidate may end up being a disgrace or an unacceptable representative. Exceptions should be made in very rare and necessary cases such as in cases where there are fewer than 95 per cent of elected MPs required for the House to open.

The Constitution requires that 95 per cent of the MPs be present for the first session of the House after a general election and also requires that all vacant seats be filled in 180 days.

-- The Nation 2011-04-08