The Election Commission (EC) is ready to proceed with the selection of senators, which is likely to be completed within 90 days of the process starting.
EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said the selection process will begin as soon as an organic bill governing the selection of senators is royally endorsed and published in the Royal Gazette.
He was speaking after a meeting with senior officials from the Interior Ministry to discuss cooperation and necessary preparations for the Senate polls.
Attendees at the meeting included interior permanent secretary Chatchai Promlert, Department of Provincial Administration chief Arthit Boonyasophat, and chief of the Department of Local Administration Sutthipong Julcharoen.
Based on the provisional clauses of the new bill pending royal approval, the EC is responsible for an intra-group election of 50 senators while the majority of the remaining 200 senators will be hand-picked by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Several seats are also reserved for military leaders.
Mr Jarungvith said the entire list of elected senators is likely to be forwarded to the NCPO chief and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha early next year who will then submit it for royal endorsement.
He said the Interior Ministry is being roped in to assist in examining the backgrounds and qualifications of senate candidates. The Senate election can take place without waiting for the complete appointment of poll inspectors, he added.
The EC has yet to appoint 616 election inspectors, who will replace provincial election directors and are tasked with investigating poll complaints and forwarding them to the EC for consideration.
As for the general election, the EC secretary-general said the agency cannot organise the general election before late February due to the tight time frame. After the national polls, it can proceed with local elections.
The organic law on the election of MPs will take effect 90 days after being published in the Royal Gazette, most probably this month. The general election must be held within 150 days after the law takes effect.
Mr Chatchai said the meeting centred on how the Interior Ministry would support the EC in holding elections.
The ministry is responsible for keeping the civil registry database, which is essential in the drawing of constituencies, and updating the list of eligible voters.
The EC also plans to invite political parties for talks about related laws in the run-up to the poll later this month. The planned meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sept 28.
EC deputy secretary-general Sawang Boonmee said the dialogue is between the EC and political parties, and is not a forum sponsored by the NCPO to discuss the lifting of the political ban.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Wednesday assured that political parties would have a plenty of time to draw up policy platforms and campaign.
"By December political parties should be able to campaign. They can address large crowds, put up campaign posters, ask for permission to hold rallies at Sanam Luang, or go knocking on people's doors," he said.