EC to thrash out 13 looming poll problems

EC to thrash out 13 looming poll problems

Pheu Thai renews bid for early election

The Election Commission will address problems that could hinder attempts to stage a new poll before it meets the caretaker government later this week.

EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the agency will look at the findings from a seminar held over the weekend in Nakhon Ratchasima.

He said he had raised a total of 13 issues to discuss. They cover possible problems the EC may face if it stages a fresh election while the political conflict remains unresolved.

They concern the application and registration for party-list candidates; the application and registration of constituency candidates; verification of candidate qualifications in a limited time period and delays in printing of ballot papers due to protesters' blockades.

Others concern the transportation and distribution of ballot papers, ballot boxes and other equipment to the provinces; distribution of ballot papers, ballot boxes and polling equipment to local election officials; and disruption to advance voting.

Still others are the recruitment of election officials and last-minute mass resignation; low turn-out in overseas voting; delayed delivery and return of ballot papers in foreign countries; and disruption to election on the voting day.

Finally, other problems identified include the setting up of an election administrative and monitoring centre; and use of local radio stations and electronic media that affects voting.

In the lead-up to the Feb 2 election, the EC struggled to put arrangements in place after anti-government supporters launched a campaign to derail the poll. The protesters blocked candidate registration venues and laid siege to post offices to prevent distribution of ballot papers and equipment.

The result was that no election was held in 28 constituencies in the South, which prompted the Constitution Court to nullify the election.

Mr Somchai said he expects senior officials to come up with recommendations which will be submitted to the EC.

They will also be used to finalise talk points for the Wednesday meeting with the government. Setting a new poll date is believed to be high on the agenda. The EC has initially agreed that the fresh polls should take place on July 20.

Mr Somchai, who is in charge of election management, said the recommendations may also be raised for discussion when the EC meets Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva tomorrow to hear his reform proposals.

The Pheu Thai party, meanwhile, is urging the EC to review its proposal for the election to be held on July 20, saying sooner would be better.

Prompong Nopparit, the party spokesman, said a quicker election would not be for the benefit of Pheu Thai or other political parties but for the country as a whole.

He said the idea of holding the election on July 20 was floated solely by Mr Somchai. Pheu Thai and most other parties had asked the EC to organise the poll within in 60 days of a royal decree being issued.

Meanwhile, EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said the commission will today consider complaints filed against the remaining 15 senators-designate.

The EC has so far endorsed the winning candidates in 62 provinces and it is required to complete the announcement of all winners within 30 days of the election date.

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