RSUSCI-2022 & RSUSOC-2022

IN22-059 Legal Measures to Resolve Vote Buying in Election of Municipality Council Members and Mayor of the Municipality in Phatthalung Province Problems

Presenter: Sattra Keawphang
-, Faculty of Law, Thaksin University

Abstract

The objective of the research is to suggest and develop the law on Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019) in problems related to vote buying in the election of municipality council members and mayor of the municipality in Phatthalung province. The study included a study of documents and interviews (key informants). The authors found that 1) the Office of Election Commission of Thailand’s lack of manpower availability causes ineffective prevention and suppression. 2) Reactive working is being used for the Office of Election Commission of Thailand causes in case of no one files petition, the vote buyer is free to punish in accordance with the law. 3) Determination of punishment for vote sellers causes people to dare to provide information or testify as eyewitnesses because they are afraid of their offense and punishment in accordance with the law. The authors suggest that amendments in election laws shall include changes related to the appointment of other state agencies to perform investigation, inquiry, and collect evidence works, election commission officers delegation to investigate, search for the clue, collect evidence and arrest election offenders without filing petition and determination of punishment for vote seller repeal to solve problems related to vote buying in the election of municipality council members and mayor of the municipality.

Citation format:

Keawphang, S., & Komonwanit, T.. (2022). Legal Measures to Resolve Vote Buying in Election of Municipality Council Members and Mayor of the Municipality in Phatthalung Province Problems. Proceeding in RSU International Research Conference, April 30, 2022. Pathum Thani, Thailand.