Article on referendum voting criteria to be amended
An amendment to the interim charter in relation to the voting criteria for the public referendum will be completed next month, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.
He said the State Council was checking the amendment, which follows the Cabinet’s resolutions, and has so far revised three Articles. The amendment also does not include punishment on electoral offences during the referendum.
The Election Commission (EC) has already drafted rules and regulations to keep peace and order during the referendum since it cannot enforce the 2009 Referendum Act during the period.
The EC has presented three options to punish electoral offenders: issuing orders by the National Council for Peace and Order, which may not be accepted by the public; passing an Act, which may take too much time; or opting for the royal decree, which is faster.
Supreme Commander General Sommai Kaotira said no military unit will order military personnel to vote to accept or reject the charter draft.
He said the military was only campaigning to encourage them and their families to exercise their voting rights.
“We want a high turnout of voters, but are not influencing their voting decision in any way,” he said.
