Survey: Most Thais will go to vote, oppose coup

[webfact]

Survey: Most Thais Will Go To Vote, Oppose Coup
By Kkaosod English.

BANGKOK: -- A survey has claimed that a vast majority of Thai population plans to cast their votes in 2 February snap election.

The survey, named Bangkok Poll as it was conducted by research centre of Bangkok University, interviews 1,018 respondents over the age of 18 from "every region" of the nation.

To the question "If the election is still held on 2 February election, will you exercise your voting rights?", the 79.6% of those surveyed answered yes, while 9.9% answered no, and the other 10.5% said they were not sure.

The result came at a time when anti-government protesters led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) intensified their campaigns to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and scrap the 2 February election.

The PCAD demands that an unelected "People′s Council" be established and implement series of reforms before any election can take place.

However, according to the survey conducted by Bangkok Poll, only 28.1% said they want to see "reform before election", while a majority of 51.5% believed the election should go ahead as planned.

But the survey also pointed to the apathy displayed by many political parties toward the 2 February election, as 49.3% of the respondents acknowledged that they had only seen vote-canvassing banners on streets but not candidates physically campaigning for votes.

Another 16.1% said they had not seen any vote-canvassing activity at all, and only 4.9% said they had seen enthusiastic vote-canvassing campaign by candidates.

Nevertheless, 47% of respondents said their determination to participate in the 2 February election is not affected by the ongoing political crisis, while the other 52.6% responded that the crisis have influenced their decisions.

In the latter group, 34.3% said they would wait and see if there would be violence before they decide to cast their ballots, and 18.3% said the crisis has dissuaded them from going to the election altogether.

Asked whether the military should stage a coup to resolve the increasingly violent political confrontation, a majority of 56% opposed the coup, but 21.6% said they would welcome it, while 22.4% said they were undecided about the matter.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNU1EVTBOamMzT1E9PQ==

-- Khaosod English 2014-01-24

[bkkjames]

I will go on record and suggest turn-out will be much lower than the poll. Maybe JT can do a Poll about the Poll?

Edited January 24, 2014 by bkkjames

[h90]

I will go on record and suggest turn-out will be much lower than the poll. Maybe JT can do a Poll about the Poll?

Well upcountry you get 500 Baht for the vote....Husband, Wife, 4 grandparents, 2 grown up kids=4000 Baht.....not bad money

[kurtgruen]

Trouble is, in Thailand, if you don't vote in an election, you loose your right to vote in the following, or at least, that is what the uneducated, in the North are made to believe here. I wouldn't count on it being true, but people up here believe it is, so of course, they will vote, because they think, they will loose there voting privileges for the future, if they don't vote in this election.

[worgeordie]

Especially if they are paid,who's going to refuse 500 bht. ?

regards Worgeordie

[uty6543]

No election in Thailand ever gets a 79.6% turnout so this survey has not selected a fair representation of the Thai people.

[bkkjames]

North / NE 85% turnout

Central 68%

Bangkok alone 57%

South - there was an election yesterday?

[Costas2008]

bkkjames, on 24 Jan 2014 - 14:55, said:bkkjames, on 24 Jan 2014 - 14:55, said:

I will go on record and suggest turn-out will be much lower than the poll. Maybe JT can do a Poll about the Poll?

On the contrary, I believe that more people will turn-out so they can cast a NO vote as to make these elections null and void.

Assuming that there will be an election...........

Edited January 24, 2014 by Costas2008

[Nickymaster]

Are these the same guys that concluded that Sukhumband would loose the BKK governor elections by a huge margin?

[citizen33]

Especially if they are paid,who's going to refuse 500 bht. ?

regards Worgeordie

But as Korn admitted (as posted many times without some reading it), the Democrats paid out more than PTP last time around - so the pickings will be slimmer now with them not running!

As to not voting resulting in a lost vote, that is not so fanciful if the 'People's Council' replaces the elected Parliament.

But I think the usual suspects really knew these things already.

[diceq]

Especially if they are paid,who's going to refuse 500 bht. ?

regards Worgeordie

You're either not good at math or a liar.

[diceq]

bkkjames, on 24 Jan 2014 - 14:55, said:bkkjames, on 24 Jan 2014 - 14:55, said:

I will go on record and suggest turn-out will be much lower than the poll. Maybe JT can do a Poll about the Poll?

On the contrary, I believe that more people will turn-out so they can cast a NO vote as to make these elections null and void.

Assuming that there will be an election...........

Keep dreaming.

[Mosha]

A massive sample that, 1,016 out how many elegible people?

[jaidam]

Trouble is, in Thailand, if you don't vote in an election, you loose your right to vote in the following, or at least, that is what the uneducated, in the North are made to believe here. I wouldn't count on it being true, but people up here believe it is, so of course, they will vote, because they think, they will loose there voting privileges for the future, if they don't vote in this election.

And if youdon't vote for the "right" candidate, huge loss of face and the threat of danger awaits you, as you all know the ballot box isn't really secret and big brother is always watching you vote. Intimidation is such an effective tool.

[bkkjames]

bkkjames, on 24 Jan 2014 - 14:55, said:bkkjames, on 24 Jan 2014 - 14:55, said:

I will go on record and suggest turn-out will be much lower than the poll. Maybe JT can do a Poll about the Poll?

On the contrary, I believe that more people will turn-out so they can cast a NO vote as to make these elections null and void.

Assuming that there will be an election...........

If it were me and I felt that holding the election under the SOE is wrong, I would not vote at all - Even voting NO shows you approve of the election

Will be interesting to see anyway what happens later today, and in the coming days.

[soi41]

"Most Thais will go to vote"

Just proves, they are smarter than many posters here!!

[kikoman]

Wait for the flood of Nay sayers, will question the validity of the poll,79.6 answered they will vote on February 2, 2014.

51,5 believe the election should be held as planned, 28.1% favored reform before the election!

47.1 % were determined to vote on election day, 34.3% would wait and see if no violence!

It does not say for whom they intend to vote< just that they plan to vote,What it does document that Suthep boycott has not changed the voters right to cast their vote on election day.,

Suthep again does not speak for the majority of Thai Voters!

What he has always championed is appointment to power of the minority, to rule the majority!

I told you so!

[xminator]

I will go on record and suggest turn-out will be much lower than the poll. Maybe JT can do a Poll about the Poll?

Well upcountry you get 500 Baht for the vote....Husband, Wife, 4 grandparents, 2 grown up kids=4000 Baht.....not bad money

Could you please provide proof? Because all sources from last election indicated that vote buying where a small problem. Heck, Korn himself admitted no amount of money could win them that election, and that they outspent their opponents (for campaign, not vote buying, that would be stupid to admit...)

The money last time came from the fringe parties. And while people took money, they also ignored it when voting. This have been covered several places with objective arguments.

Not that I think the TV mob will remember that for more then 30 seconds before going back to "you can buy a victory in Thailand".

[Dogmatix]

I wonder what the average price of a vote will be. The poll should have asked them the minimum price they would be willing to sell their votes for and without factoring in this critical aspect the poll would be meaningless. . Respondents are probably naively assuming they will be paid the same as last time but political parties are likely to pay less, given the uncertainties of a definitive result and lack of opposition. Lower prices could lead to a lower voter turn-out

Edited January 24, 2014 by Dogmatix

[Imale]

Trouble is, in Thailand, if you don't vote in an election, you loose your right to vote in the following, or at least, that is what the uneducated, in the North are made to believe here. I wouldn't count on it being true, but people up here believe it is, so of course, they will vote, because they think, they will loose there voting privileges for the future, if they don't vote in this election.

And it's not true as the most rudimentary research could have shown.

If you fail to vote, you lose the rights to stand in an election, to sign a petition to recall an elected representative or to sign a petition to propose legislation. These rights are automatically restored as you as you do vote.

[Scamper]

The poll also concluded a point of unanimous assent among Thais. 100 % thought Khaosod to be an absolutely putrid publication.

[PREM-R]

The poll also concluded a point of unanimous assent among Thais. 100 % thought Khaosod to be an absolutely putrid publication.

Yes, lacking the objectivity and cutting journalism of the Nation 555

[kurtgruen]

I wonder what the average price of a vote will be. The poll should have asked them the minimum price they would be willing to sell their votes for and without factoring in this critical aspect the poll would be meaningless. . Respondents are probably naively assuming they will be paid the same as last time but political parties are likely to pay less, given the uncertainties of a definitive result and lack of opposition. Lower prices could lead to a lower voter turn-out

For the Chiang Mai Municipal Elections, the Reds where paying 800 Baht per person, in the voting district by Gym Kanna Golf Course. I know that for a fact!

With no Democrats running and this election most likely being annulled right after, one would have to be stupid to pay people, but maybe they will, just to "show" people, how popular they are

[kurtgruen]

Trouble is, in Thailand, if you don't vote in an election, you loose your right to vote in the following, or at least, that is what the uneducated, in the North are made to believe here. I wouldn't count on it being true, but people up here believe it is, so of course, they will vote, because they think, they will loose there voting privileges for the future, if they don't vote in this election.

And it's not true as the most rudimentary research could have shown.

If you fail to vote, you lose the rights to stand in an election, to sign a petition to recall an elected representative or to sign a petition to propose legislation. These rights are automatically restored as you as you do vote.

Like I said, the poor people in the North, are deceived to believe, that they won't get to vote next time, if they don't vote. It's not hard, to pull the wool over someone's eyes, if they don't know the process.

[Snig27]

I wonder what the average price of a vote will be. The poll should have asked them the minimum price they would be willing to sell their votes for and without factoring in this critical aspect the poll would be meaningless. . Respondents are probably naively assuming they will be paid the same as last time but political parties are likely to pay less, given the uncertainties of a definitive result and lack of opposition. Lower prices could lead to a lower voter turn-out

For the Chiang Mai Municipal Elections, the Reds where paying 800 Baht per person, in the voting district by Gym Kanna Golf Course. I know that for a fact!

With no Democrats running and this election most likely being annulled right after, one would have to be stupid to pay people, but maybe they will, just to "show" people, how popular they are

I'm guessing you saw it on TV, right?

Sitting in Chiang Mai right now and I asked a few people if they'd ever been paid to vote. You really don't want to hear the answer ....

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Mackie]

The poll also concluded a point of unanimous assent among Thais. 100 % thought Khaosod to be an absolutely putrid publication.

Let's be frank, posting Khaosod as a source really devalues any debate on this forum. I wouldn't actually be surprised that it's owned by Shins Corporation. That sums up their impartiality and objectivity.

Most Thais will go to vote. OK. They did not address the issue. Will the election be successful or fail? As things stand the election will fail and Thai tax payer money will be wasted once again by greedy and utterly incompetent and ignorant individuals who are in charge of current Thai government.

Edited January 24, 2014 by Mackie

[tullynagardy]

On the contrary, I believe that more people will turn-out so they can cast a NO vote as to make these elections null and void.

Assuming that there will be an election...........

What? Whats a "no" vote? You understand how an election works right? Its not a referendum.

[rreddin]

Trouble is, in Thailand, if you don't vote in an election, you loose your right to vote in the following, or at least, that is what the uneducated, in the North are made to believe here. I wouldn't count on it being true, but people up here believe it is, so of course, they will vote, because they think, they will loose there voting privileges for the future, if they don't vote in this election.

Of course, unless they do vote in this election, there is a very real possibility that they will lose their right to vote permanently.

I have observed a couple of elections in Thailand and can tell you that the voters I saw were keenly interested in ensuring that they voted and that their vote was counted. In both elections, there was a surprisingly large number of the elctorate present when the votes were counted and many of them also went to the amphoe office, where the votes from each poling station were collated, to see the result for themselves. Contrary to what the Dear Leader's propaganda says, people in the North and North East do understand democracy.

[chrisrazz]

The poll also concluded a point of unanimous assent among Thais. 100 % thought Khaosod to be an absolutely putrid publication.

Let's be frank, posting Khaosod as a source really devalues any debate on this forum. I wouldn't actually be surprised that it's owned by Shins Corporation. That sums up their impartiality and objectivity.

Most Thais will go to vote. OK. They did not address the issue. Will the election be successful or fail? As things stand the election will fail and Thai tax payer money will be wasted once again by greedy and utterly incompetent and ignorant individuals who are in charge of current Thai government.

If tax payers money is wasted it will be because a minority don't believe in democracy. The government are complying with the constitution.

Edited January 24, 2014 by chrisrazz

[tullynagardy]

Trouble is, in Thailand, if you don't vote in an election, you loose your right to vote in the following, or at least, that is what the uneducated, in the North are made to believe here. I wouldn't count on it being true, but people up here believe it is, so of course, they will vote, because they think, they will loose there voting privileges for the future, if they don't vote in this election.

They vote because they are scared they`ll loose the right or because they`re paid? Make your mind up &lt;deleted&gt;

BTW Bangkok and the South has just as many uneducated people as "the North," the idea that once you pass Korat everyone becomes retarded is nothing more than a myth. Indeed some of Thailands best Universities hail from the region. Incidentally the reason many from that said region can now afford to go to University is due to a corrupt politician called Thaskin.