24 DAYS to the Referendum
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has provided training for its staff members involved in the August 19national referendum on the draft constitution.
The two-day training started Thursday in Pattaya, Chon Buri. It is about the referendum process, and related laws including Election Commission's regulations. The 300 participants are from Bangkok's 50 districts.
BMA will announce the list of eligible voters on Sunday (July 29).
Bangkok has a population of 5,695,956 in 2,150,706 households, according to the household registration records.
The city administration will inform the voters about the referendum by August 3. Meanwhile, those finding their information incorrect must notify their district offices by August 8.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and the Election Commission believe the Interior Ministry can provide transportation for people to vote in the public referendum on the constitution draft.
Surayud said the proposal was acceptable because voters may have difficulty travelling to the polling stations in some areas. He said the Council of State had earlier ruled that providing transportation did not break election law.
Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said the Interior Ministry proposal did not break election law because the referendum was different from a general election in that it was a single issue and there was no competition between rival candidates.
Commissioner Somchai Jungprasert said the courts would decide whether those who campaign for the public to vote 'no' to the draft are breaking the law. However, he personally believes that as long as they do not block people from going to the poll, they are not committing an offence.
The EC will produce television and radio adverts to encourage people to vote in the referendum.
Meanwhile, Defence Ministry spokesman Lt-General Pitsanu Puchakarn said the ministry had instructed all military personnel to bring eligible family members to vote in the referendum on August 19.
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