Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has insisted that the Feb 24 general election will not be pushed back as criticism has flared that it coincides with university entrance examinations.
Gen Prawit said the clash of dates between the election, the General Aptitude Test (GAT), and the Professional and Academic Aptitude Test (PAT), which determines enrolment of students in universities, would not result in the postponement of the election.
"This is a matter for the Education Ministry, which must look into details of deferring the tests to ensure more than six million young voters will be able to cast their ballots," said Gen Prawit.
"How could we deprive them of their rights?"
The Council of University Presidents of Thailand announced on Aug 22 that the GAT and PAT tests would be held between Feb 23-26.
The election is broadly expected to take place on Feb 24, though no official date has been declared yet.
Concerns are mounting that many young voters will not have the opportunity to cast their vote as they could be required to sit an examination the same day the election is held.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said that the education minister had informed him about the problem.
He said he had told the minister to find a solution.
However, since it has not been officially confirmed that the poll will be held on Feb 24, the postponement of the exams may lead to clashing dates in the future as well.
A change of exam dates can be made when it has been made clear on what date the poll will definitely take place.
"The postponement, if needed, must be done with the GAT and PAT tests, not the poll," said Mr Wissanu.
Various agencies are examining the pros and cons of scenarios in which postponing the exams will least affect students while ensuring they are not deprived of their right to vote, he said.
It is impossible to extend the time period when people can cast votes since it is restricted by law, he said.
If a clash of dates is inevitable, the exams can be wrapped up in the morning so that students would still have time to vote.
"If the tests really cannot be deferred, for whatever reason, the examination time could be adjusted and a clear answer on this could become known within a few days," Mr Wissanu said.
"I have known about this issue for months, but I do not know what to do since there is no clarity on the election date," the deputy premier said.
Responding to scepticism that the GAT and PAT exams were planned to clash with the poll date, Mr Wissanu said this was not true since various committees had set out the test schedule years in advance.
Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin said Thursday he had not made any complaint as there is still no official confirmation of the election date.
He said he is now in the process of seeking a way out and will talk to the National Institute of Education Testing Service (Niets), which organises the tests, about the problem.
He said advance voting could be one of the solutions.