70% of Thais clueless about upcoming senatorial elections

A new poll revealed that nearly a quarter of Thais are unaware of the upcoming senatorial elections, while a whopping 70% do not understand how the new election system works.

This startling revelation comes as the nation prepares for elections from June 9 to 26, where thousands of candidates will vote among themselves to elect 200 senators.

The poll, conducted by King Prajadhipok’s Institute on May 7 and 18, surveyed 1,620 Thais over the age of 18. The results, published today, paint a worrying picture of public awareness and understanding.

According to the findings, 76.5% of respondents are aware of the election, leaving 23.5% in the dark. However, when quizzed on the election process, only 28.5% correctly answered that candidates would vote among themselves.

“There’s a significant knowledge gap. 21.5% of people mistakenly believe the election involves candidates from different occupation groups, and 15.5% think the public will cast votes directly.”

A startling 34.7% admitted they have no idea how the new voting system operates. Age and education play a crucial role in these misconceptions. While about 30% of those over 60 answered correctly, a massive 73.9% of individuals aged 18 to 25 had no clue or misunderstood the process.

Moreover, 79.3% of respondents with only elementary education were unaware of how the election works, compared to 35.4% of those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher who answered correctly.

The upcoming election will see candidates vote at three levels: district on June 9, provincial on June 16, and national on June 26. This new 200-member Senate will replace the current 250-member Senate, appointed by the junta after the 2014 coup, whose tenure ended on May 10. These appointed senators continue to serve in a caretaker role until the new Senate is elected, reported The Nation.

As the elections loom, the poll highlights a critical need for better public education on the electoral process to ensure a well-informed electorate.

In related news, former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat made a surprise appearance at the Chiang Mai district office at 9am on Tuesday, May 21, marking the opening of senatorial candidate registrations.