The Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (P-Net) claims the Election Commission (EC) has not fulfilled its work requirements in its first six months in office.
P-Net said the EC has failed to demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility, confirm it is not being influenced by any political party, or show it intends to ensure free and fair elections.
Moreover, it has only forwarded one of many complaints lodged with it against political parties to the Constitutional Court, P-Net said.
This was an apparent reference to the court's decision on Thursday to disband Thai Raksa Chart for nominating Princess Ubolratana as its prime ministerial candidate -- a political gambit that spectacularly backfired.
P-Net also accused the EC of ignoring a request to seek a court interpretation as to whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is a state official. The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has nominated Gen Prayut as its prime ministerial candidate, but state officials cannot be nominated.
The EC has said it expects the PPRP case will take a long time to resolve.
P-Net also accused the EC of failing to spend the state budget wisely.
The EC spent 12 million baht on overseas study trips at a time when it was needed in Thailand to prepare for advance voting, which will take place on March 17, and the election proper on March 24, P-Net said.
EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma rebutted the criticism Thursday, saying the 12 million baht was to support overseas voting and not for the trip alone.
The Department of Consular Affairs asked the commissioners to inspect overseas voting arrangements in their countries, he said.
He stressed it was not a study trip and said the EC would return before March 17.
The commissioners can convene teleconferences and use their laptops to stay in contact while they are so far away from home, Mr Jarungvith said.
