"There's a senate election?
Bangkok Post
By Mongkol Bangprapa
Despite campaigns by the Election Commission (EC), fewer than 30 per cent of Thais were able to tell a pollster that they know there is to be an election for 76 senators countrywide on March 2.
According to the latest Suan Dusit poll by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, of the 3,266 people surveyed, only 29 per cent could tell the interviewers how important the election is for the parliament, while 57 per cent said they had "scant knowledge" of it.
A surprising 12 per cent of respondents admitted they knew nothing of the coming election.
Most people surveyed admitted they were less aware of the senate election than they were of the Dec 23 election for House of Representatives.
Their reactions have raised fresh concerns over low voter turnout, as many have still not decided whether to exercise their voting right.
A low figure of 18 per cent said they would cast their ballot, while about 38 per cent said they were unsure if they would vote, according to the poll.
Yesterday EC commissioner Prapan Naikowit asked election staff, who are being trained for the poll, to help campaign for the senate election in order to "complete our democracy".
Thailand is back on the road to democracy after the 2006 coup which ousted the Thaksin Shinawatra government and put the country under a military appointed government.
The 2007 constitution stipulates the Senate has 150 members, 74 of them appointed and the rest directly elected by the people in 76 provinces. Each province has only one senator.
A source revealed yesterday that two former members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) have been appointe senators by a selection committee. They are Independent News Network (INN) executive Somchai Sawangkarn and Manager Daily columnist Kamnoon Sithisamarn.
"This shows the selection committee sees no legal problems in their qualifications," said outgoing NLA speaker Meechai Ruchupan.
He said the NLA, now serving as a caretaker Senate, would hold its last meeting on February 29 before handing the legislative tasks to new senators.
Its more than one-year legislation period has seen its members pass nearly 200 laws, some of which have sparked controversy in society.
The EC will hold advance voting on February 23 and 24 to allow workers to cast ballots in places outside their hometowns. Those who voted in advance for Lower House representatives last year are not required to register this time.
Mr Prapan stressed that senators have a vital role in parliament. They have more power than members of the Lower House as the constitution authorises them to scrutinise the government"
Bangkok Post.
My Thai friend thinks that bars will be closed. Maybe also on 23rd and 24th.
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Originally Posted by Noom Lex
