The Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled the organic bill on the election of MPs passed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is legal.
The court's judges were unanimous in ruling that the bill does not violate the 2017 constitution, the court said.
The ruling followed a petition signed by 27 NLA members, after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) fretted about the bill's legality, worrying it could pose legal problems later if its constitutionality remained unclear.
The court gave its ruling on whether two sections in the bill were constitutional or not. The two issues were Section 35 on the revocation of political rights for those who fail to vote and Section 92 on allowing others to mark the ballot card at a polling booth for voters with disabilities.
The ruling by the Constitutional Court is the crucial step in deciding whether an election will be held in February.
The ruling clears the way for the prime minister to submit the bill for royal endorsement. After it is published in the Royal Gazette, the law will take 90 days to come into effect -- and the constitution requires an election to take place within 150 days of that date.
The court's decision raises hopes that the election to be held in February, and has prompted political parties and pro-poll activists to step up calls for the regime to end its ban on political activities.
Deputy Democrat Party leader Pinit Intarasombat and Rangsiman Rome of the Democracy Restoration Group said that following the court ruling, the NCPO had no reason to defer the election past February.
Mr Pinit and Pheu Thai Party legal advisor Chusak Sirinil urged the junta to quickly unlock a ban preventing political parties from organising activities, arguing that they now have to prepare for the election.