Senate selection officers primed

Provincial and district election officials are being trained for next month’s Senate selection to ensure they are well-versed in the regulations and can enforce them effectively, according to the Election Commission (EC).

In Nakhon Ratchasima, 231 district and provincial election officials attended a training session where they were educated about the selection process and how it should be conducted.

Sirichai Wiriyaphong, director of the provincial election office, said he expected more independent candidates to apply than those affiliated to organisations.

“Only a small number of organisations in the province have registered with the EC to qualify to nominate candidates in the coming Senate selection,” he noted.

Verification of candidates qualifications is done mostly by an online checking system, which is linked to the country’s citizenship database.

The first batch of 250 senators will be selected under the provisional clauses of the charter, with the EC responsible for the intra-professional and social group voting in which 50 senators will be picked.

The process will occur at three levels: district level on Dec 16, provincial level on Dec 22 and finally national level on Dec 27.

The selections must be completed at

least 15 days before the general election takes place and the names of those chosen will be submitted to the National Council for Peace and Order for appointment.

In the southern province of Pattani, training was held with local election officials to explain the procedure.

Last week, EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said the selection of senators would be the EC’s first big test before the general election.

He added that he hoped the EC and the newly appointed poll inspectors can work together efficiently. Altogether 616 election inspectors, who will replace provincial election directors, are tasked with investigating complaints.