EC working on rules for draft charter referendum
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The Election Commission (EC) will forward its resolutions on the draft charter’s public referendum to the National Legislative Assembly next week, EC specialist Thanit Sriprathet said yesterday.
The resolutions will specify how copies of the draft will be printed and distributed, how opinions of supporters and opponents will be collected and disseminated, how broadcast time will be allocated on the issue, as well as details on the ballot papers. The submission will also include rules and regulations on the referendum, Thanit said, which will be similar to those applied in senatorial elections.
He said the EC also offered proposals on how violators of referendum rules, such as those who tear up ballot papers, block elections, buy votes or reveal opinion polls before the election date, should be punished.
He said the EC also raised a question about possible negative consequences of the interim charter’s Article 37, which stipulates that the referendum requires votes from the majority of eligible voters, as this would require a larger number of voters than those who actually exercised their voting rights.He said the EC would announce the referendum date on June 22, adding that he expects the plebiscite to be held on July 31.
