The Election Commission (EC) is getting ready to redraw constituencies ahead of the general election after the regime eased the ban on political activities.
EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said Sunday the poll organising agency will come up with a set of regulations governing the process ahead of the election tentatively set for Feb 24.
Pol Col Jarungvith said that provincial election offices will be responsible for redrawing the constituencies in their respective areas.
Opinions will be sought from parties and local people and will be sent to the EC who will have the final say on the process in each province, Pol Col Jarunvith said.
He also said the EC will meet parties on Sept 28 to explain to parties how to proceed with their pre-election activities in compliance with the latest National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) order easing the ban on political activities.
Deputy EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said previously that the EC expects to finish redrawing constituencies in 60 days.
The EC is now required to redraw the boundaries nationwide after the law on the election of MPs was royally endorsed and published in the Royal Gazette on Friday, even though it will only take effect 90 days after its publication.
There will be 350 constituency MP seats up for grabs in the poll and the EC's job is to figure out how the constituencies will be designated to create room for all of these MPs.
According to a new Section 44 order issued on Friday, parties now have a green light to carry out some necessary activities to prepare for the election, but all forms of campaigning remain forbidden.
The order also stipulates that the EC must finish redrawing constituencies within the 90-day period and declare the new boundaries before the law on the election of MPs takes effect.
After the law becomes effective, a royal decree will be issued to set a date for the poll, at which point the process of organising the next general election within 150 days will begin.
Suriyasai Katasila, deputy dean of Rangsit University's Social Innovation College, said the easing of the political ban will give parties a chance to reform and restructure themselves before they are allowed to canvass for votes.
Also on Sunday, Pheu Thai Party key figure Noppadon Pattama urged the regime to permit campaigning on social media, saying both small and big parties will benefit from being allowed to communicate via digital platforms.
"Online communication costs very little compared to actual campaigning and it will help parties to reach out to more people effectively," Mr Noppadon said.
Meanwhile, a survey by Super Poll showed that a majority, or 85.1%, of respondents agreed with the easing of the political activities ban.
84.9% of ''first-time voters'' at the next election also supported the move.
Asked about poll preparations, 76.2% said preparations should proceed gradually while 23.8% wanted poll arrangements to take place as quickly as possible.
The survey was conducted on 1,014 people nationwide over the weekend.