EC proposes Jan 10 as referendum date

[webfact]

EC proposes Jan 10 as referendum date
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission Wednesday proposed that the referendum on the new draft charter should be held on January 10 next year.

EC Chairman Supachai Somcharoen said if the National Reform Council approves the draft by September 16 in line with the road map, the referendum will fall on January 10 as the EC will have to print and distribute 19 million copies of the draft to voters first.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/EC-proposes-Jan-10-as-referendum-date-30262019.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-10

[Mango Bob]

This EC should be fired for their failure to hold elections in the past. They are an incompetent and should never be allowed to hold any type of an election or the referendum.

[Bannum opinions]

The Election Commission is held in contempt by the pro-democracy side.

Refusing to expedite the last election in February places them firmly in one camp of the political divide.

That said.......Out with it.....What do they mean by a "referendum'?

[webfact]

Referendum is scheduled on January 10



BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission has set January 10 as the date for referendum for the people to decide whether to accept the amended draft Constitution and to answer on two more queries which may include reforms before election issue, said EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen on Wednesday.

The EC, he said, is well prepared to stage the referendum. Once the EC has received the draft charter from the National Reform Council expected within September 16, it will send the approved draft to a well-established printing house for publication of up to 19 million copies for distribution to 80 percent of households across the country, he added.

All the copies of the draft charter will be distributed within November 30 before the referendum is to be staged on January 10.

Mr Supachai explained that the issues to be queried in the referendum would be raised by the NRC and the National Legislative Assemby but the queries would be crafted by the EC.

He assured that the EC was capable enough to launch publicity blitz to educate members of the public about the referendum which would cost the taxpayers about three billion baht.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/referendum-is-scheduled-on-january-10


-- Thai PBS 2015-06-10

[chainarong]

Has the Charter draft been finalised yet or is the EC just guessing and is the referendum also going to take place for the PM Prayut - O to stay on , I am just gushing with anticipation over this, as this is one of the reasons what the coup was all about, awesome stuff , even riveting. .

Edited June 10, 2015 by chainarong

[phoenixdoglover]

Ah, yes. The printing contract.

[Ulic]

Oxymoron....... Jumbo shrimp, military intelligence, and now Thai Election Commission.

[CiaranO]

Only 19 million people eligible to vote ?

[Srikcir]

Only 19 million people eligible to vote ?

In the 2011 election there were 27,537,677 "valid votes."

But there may be more than one voter at an address.

[Srikcir]

"print and distribute 19 million copies of the draft to voters"

And will the copies be only in Thai?

For the referendum for the 2007 draft constitution the Junta did not allow it translated into Malay for the 4 million Southern Malay-Thais.

[tbthailand]

June 10 2015 to January 10 2016, ...

not worried about time-to-market are they???

[webfact]

NEW CHARTER
Referendum on charter likely on January 10
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE DATE of the public referendum allowing voters to decide on the fate of the draft charter has been tentatively set for January 10, Election Commission (EC) chairman Supachai Somcharoen said yesterday.

He said other questions could also be posed to the public in the same referendum. The National Reform Council (NRC) and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) are responsible for identifying the questions to be voted on in the plebiscite and to seek Cabinet approval for the questions to be raised.

"The questions, however, must not be leading, difficult to understand or confusing. If we find any questions are not right, the EC would inform the Cabinet. I believe the Cabinet has sound judgement of what are suitable questions,'' he said.

After the Cabinet approves the questions, the EC would go ahead with preparations for the plebiscite and educate the public on the procedures. The budget for the whole process is around Bt3 billion.

He said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) may consider easing restrictions by relaxing some of its orders to facilitate the holding of a plebiscite.

The EC would propose amendments of any NCPO orders that could obstruct the agency from carrying out its duties.

He said he hoped the plebiscite would be carried out in a peaceful atmosphere and there would be no protests or efforts to mislead the public with ill intent in the run-up to the plebiscite.

He said the EC was ready to carry out the task. If the NRC approves the draft on September 6 as planned, the NRC has to forward the draft to the EC by September 16.

The EC would find printing houses that have the capacity and efficiency to print 19 million copies of the charter draft, or 80 per cent of total households, within 45 days - by November 15.

Every family is expected to receive a copy of the charter draft by November 30 with the plebiscite taking place on January 10.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Referendum-on-charter-likely-on-January-10-30262080.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-11

[BSJ]

Lets not rush into it! It gunna take a lot of time to get those pesky questions worded just right.

[LindaLovelace]

So they will send copies to 80% of homes. People should weigh it and automatically vote no on anything that weighs more than 28 grams. Anything that weighs more than that is too much for any reasonable Constitution. The US has a nice trim Constitution (that has been mostly gutted by the Congress and the Courts). Of course, they could go the British route and forget the whole thing. That way, the junta in the next coup wouldn't have to throw anything out.

[LindaLovelace]

Only 19 million people eligible to vote ?

In the 2011 election there were 27,537,677 "valid votes."

But there may be more than one voter at an address.

Most of those voters voted for Yingluck and have since been moved to "inactive positions." They won't be voting this time.

[ikke]

a referendum during a dictatorship doesn't make sense , there is still no freedom of speech , nor expression, people will be brainwashed by the weekly populist clown shows, and even scared to vote against the Junta , maybe they go there with x in their mind but vote z anyway because they will be afraid of loosing their freedom. So, NO to a referendum which is deemed to turn out exactly as the junta wants.

[ikke]

Only 19 million people eligible to vote ?

In the 2011 election there were 27,537,677 "valid votes."

But there may be more than one voter at an address.

Maybe they counted only the military,soldiers and yellow shirts.

[rubl]

If I understand all interesting post till now correctly there is no need for a referendum, no need to print copies of the charter proposed, no need for anything.

Well, that's nice. Carry on guys, nothing to see here.

[Thailand]

As this is being set up by the EC my concerns are that people may be prevented from getting to voting stations by intimidation and threats from outside sources.

Perhaps the military can ensure that does not happen?

[rubl]

As this is being set up by the EC my concerns are that people may be prevented from getting to voting stations by intimidation and threats from outside sources.

Perhaps the military can ensure that does not happen?

You mean outside source might object to the EC as many posters here and show their objection to the EC through intimidation and threats?

Well, rest assured, the EC can rely on the Prayut government, the RTP, RTA and A44. What could go wrong