The Election Commission (EC) has come under fire for designating February 1 as polling day for mayors and councillors in Provincial Administrative Organisations (PAO) in 47 provinces.
Critics point out that holding the PAO elections on a Saturday, instead of Sunday, may prevent many eligible voters from returning to their home constituencies to vote, because many private businesses still open on Saturdays.
People’s party list-MP Rangsiman Rome claimed that he had heard of 500 to 1,000 baht being offered for a vote in a number of provinces, including Chiang Mai, where the party’s candidate will face a tough challenge from the Pheu Thai party candidate.
EC Chairman Itthiporn Boonpracong confirmed that they have received five complaints of alleged vote buying in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Thaweesan Sonanurak, an independent scholar, said that vote buying will continue until midnight tonight, particularly, in provinces where competition is fierce, adding that the EC should strictly enforce the election law and issue “yellow” or “orange” cards to candidates who are suspected of buying votes.
Election officials should have the courage and to act “out of the box” by visiting constituencies where there are allegations of rampant vote buying, to investigate and take appropriate action, he said.
The PAO elections on Saturday will be a contest between Pheu Thai, the People’s Party, Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation, Palang Pracharath and local influential figures.
47 PAO mayoral seats and hundreds of PAO councillor’s seats are up for grabs.
