Eligible voters in greater Bangkok are generally satisfied with the 10 nominees for the Election Commission (EC) chosen by the Supreme Court, a survey has found.

Most respondents believed the quality of the candidates would ensure the new election agency remained free from political interference, according to the results of a Bangkok University public opinion poll released yesterday.

However, most had doubts about whether the Senate would be able to ensure transparency in picking five of the nominees to fill the vacant EC seats.

Fears have arisen that a large number of senators will get together in a "bloc vote" to prevent certain nominees deemed hostile to politicians in power from being appointed as election commissioners.

The poll showed that Bangkok voters favoured those nominees deemed hostile to the government - former senator Kaewsan Atibodhi, retired Supreme Court judge Nam Yimyaem and Supreme Court senior judge Wasan Soipisut.

Kaewsan was the city voters' favourite among the 10 nominees, obtaining 1,059 votes from those surveyed. He was followed by Southern Bangkok Criminal Court senior judge Udom Fuangfung (903), Nam (876), Wasan (739) and Supreme Court judge Wicha Mahakhun (700).

The remaining five nominees obtained between 430 and 638 votes each.

A Supreme Court general meeting last Thursday selected the 10 nominees, from among whom the Senate will this week fill the five EC seats left vacant after the three remaining election commissioners resigned recently following their jailing over their handling of the April 2 general election.

Almost 85 per cent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the Supreme Court's nominations. More than 70 per cent of the respondents viewed the nomination process as transparent.

However, 53 per cent doubted the Senate's transparency in selecting the final five for the EC, compared to 47 per cent who had confidence in the Upper House.

Fifty-five per cent of the respondents said they were confident the new EC would be genuinely free from political interference, while 45 per cent had doubts.

The survey was conducted on 1,377 people aged 21 and over in Bangkok and surrounding provinces on Friday and Saturday.

Commenting on the findings, Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan yesterday said she expected the new election commissioners to perform their tasks with genuine neutrality.

Snoh Thienthong, leader of the new Pracharaj Party, said the new election commissioners should be given sufficient time to prepare for a clean and fair general election. "We should give the new EC at least four months for preparation and house cleaning, then it'll be time for the election," he said. Snoh called for the next election to be postponed from October 15 to December 10, which is Constitution Day.

Outgoing Senator Seree Suwanpanont said yesterday that the general election should be put off for at least one month to allow the new EC members to properly prepare for the polls, including a shake-up of provincial election chiefs. He said the October 15 schedule reflected the wishes of the previous election commissioners, had they remained in the office.