Thailand: Big parties back change to candidate numbering

• The coalition parties will vote in favour of separate polling numbers for constituency candidates and their parties in the next general election, according to Paiboon Nititawan, deputy leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).
• Mr Paiboon, who is also a member of the House committee scrutinising amendments to the election of MPs and parties’ laws, said the need for separate election numbers has always been a common stance among coalition members.
• Previously, Mr Somkid, chairman of the committee, said about 12 members were in favour of separate candidacy numbers while the rest were undecided, even though some appeared to see the merit in it (a universal candidacy number would be more convenient for voters and would help reduce the number of spoiled ballots).
• Mr Paiboon said that allocating different election numbers for the constituency candidates and for parties is in keeping with the intention of rewriting the charter to reintroduce the dual-ballot election system.
• It would be contradictory to the system if the constituency candidates and their parties were to be given the same election numbers.
• This is because constituency candidates are expected to woo voters with their own abilities and not rely on their parties to win the polls.
• “With two ballots, voters are free to choose one party and a constituency candidate of a different party,” he said.
• The scrutiny committee will vote on the issue on 30 Mar 22 followed by a debate and vote the next day on the criteria that potential co-founders of new parties must meet.
• The amendments to the two laws are finally proceeding after the opposition uncovered the details of an alleged clandestine bid in parliament to have two organic bills on a dual-ballot system voted down after being scrutinised and put to a third and final reading in the House of Representatives.

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2285686/big-parties-back-change-to-candidate-numbering

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2285446/ballot-change-aids-one-party-landslide