Pongsapat's voting record in dispute

The Nation

Officials probing whether Pheu Thai candidate failed to vote in a previous election

BANGKOK: -- Election officials yesterday were investigating an allegation that Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, the ruling Pheu Thai Party's Bangkok gubernatorial candidate, failed to vote in a previous election, which would disqualify him from running.

Veera Yipae, director of the Election Commission's Bangkok office, said the permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration - in her capacity as the local election director - was checking the qualifications of all the 25 candidates. She has until tomorrow to announce whether all are qualified to contest.

Yesterday, Veera said he was aware of the allegation that Pongsapat had failed to exercise his voting right in the July 2011 general election.

A source from the Election Commission said that an initial check found that Pongsapat actually did cast his vote on July 3, 2011.

However, Veera said there were also other by-elections and local elections in certain districts of Bangkok in 2011 and last year.

Election officials were still working to determine whether any of the candidates had failed to vote in any of those elections.

"We still can't confirm if any of the candidates are disqualified due to failure to vote," Veera said.

According to the Constitution, "the person who fails to vote without notifying a reasonable cause of such failure shall lose such rights as provided by law", which include the right to contest an election. The ban is offset when that person votes in the next election.

The Election Commission has received the most complaints about campaign posters blocking motorists' view of traffic, according to Panravee Veerapan, director of the EC's investigation office.

The agency has 176 news gatherers who have been sent to work in all districts of Bangkok in the run-up to the March 3 election.

Panravee also invited the public to report any suspected electoral fraud.

On the campaign trail, the opposition Democrat Party yesterday assigned its MPs to boost MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra's efforts, with the focus on the city's outskirts, including Bang Phlat, Taling Chan, Thawee Watthana and Nong Khaem. Democrat MPs from the central and northeastern provinces will also be helping out, according to MP Ong-art Klampaiboon, who heads the Democrat campaign.

The party plans to hold a rally every Friday, starting tomorrow, at many locations around the city, with the last one on March 1 at Benjasiri Park.

The Democrats also have produced a campaign commercial for Sukhumbhand. It'll be released on YouTube under the slogan "Bangkok: Move Forward Immediately".

-- The Nation 2013-01-31

Would I be off the plot to suggest that the Electoral commission would be advised to do their background checks on candidates BEFORE the campaigning begins

Pongsapat's - An anagram of Patpong Ass.

Vote 'im in, I say!

Pongsapat Pongcharoen, the ruling Pheu Thai Party's Bangkok gubernatorial candidate, failed to vote in a previous election, which would disqualify him from running.

whoops

More muck raking by 'alleged' complainants. Thai politics?

Would I be off the plot to suggest that the Electoral commission would be advised to do their background checks on candidates BEFORE the campaigning begins

Campaigning begins as soon as they announce their candidacy, so it would be difficult to do it before they do that.

Pongsapat's - An anagram of Patpong Ass.

Vote 'im in, I say!

Actually it's an anagram of "Just another thieving PTP criminal" (with a few added letters)

Pongsapat Pongcharoen, the ruling Pheu Thai Party's Bangkok gubernatorial candidate, failed to vote in a previous election, which would disqualify him from running.

whoops

Not to worry my friend. The right person with the keys to the office, login and password to the computer and wala he has voted in every election since he was eighteen.

I seem to recall something similar happend before.

Pongsapat's - An anagram of Patpong Ass.

Vote 'im in, I say!

Actually it's an anagram of "Just another thieving PTP criminal" (with a few added letters)

. . . waits for a new libel action to be brought against OzMick

If I understand correctly. For any election for which you are in principle eligible to cast your vote, you must first register and following on the Eday itself cast your vote (or in the 'early/pre election days). Failure to do so will lead you to not being allowed to vote for five (?) years.

Does this mean that those of the electorate who failed to vote in the December 2007 general election and therefore couldn't vote in the July 2011 elections may now vote again, assuming they live in BKK, can register, etc., etc. ?

If I understand correctly. For any election for which you are in principle eligible to cast your vote, you must first register and following on the Eday itself cast your vote (or in the 'early/pre election days). Failure to do so will lead you to not being allowed to vote for five (?) years.

Does this mean that those of the electorate who failed to vote in the December 2007 general election and therefore couldn't vote in the July 2011 elections may now vote again, assuming they live in BKK, can register, etc., etc. ?

Actually you are allowed to vote, however you are banned from running in any election for 5 years.

^#11 dcutman

It seems compulsory voting was introduced in the 1997 Constitution with current status:

2007 Constitution

CHAPTER IV - Duties of the Thai People

Section 72. Every person shall have a duty to exercise his right to vote at an election.

The person who exercises his right to vote at an election or fails to attend an election for voting without notifying the reasonable cause of such failure shall be entitled to or lose the right as provided by law.

The notification of the cause of failure to attend an election and the provision of facilities for attendance thereat shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law.

http://www.asianlii....2007/1.html#C04

More muck raking by 'alleged' complainants. Thai politics?

Nah... politics, politicians and the political machinations all over the world.