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3.3 Elections System

3.3.1 Confidence in Elections

As discussions focused on elections, the participants showed a heightened animation.
Whereas the discussions had been orderly and dry, this topic inspired participants to share stories

and very specific concerns and possible solutions.

Fair elections are the way forward to strengthening democracy in Thailand. A few believe

there are sufficient regulations and management systems in place to ensure the will of the people
is reflected in the results. However, most lack confidence in the Election Commission to deliver
a fair elections or fear it will not.

“Elections are the only way to end various problems. Whether it is right or wrong, that
depends on the design and planning. But an election is a democracy, it’s a point we have to

reach. There is no other way. It reflects the voice of the majority which we have to respect.”
- Male, 40+, Central Region, who expressed confidence in the election systems

“Are there any institutions, that have the intention to let the people from… the community
have knowledge and understanding of what democracy is, what the Constitution is, what

politics is, for grassroots people to understand? Therefore, there will not be any change
at all, because most of the people do not understand. Whoever gives money away, they

will take it all. It has always been like this.”
- Female, 40+, Western Region

“There’s no clear rule on how the ballots should be marked. Who decides if it’s right or
wrong when someone puts a tick instead of a cross or when someone marks a cross twice.
There’s no central rule saying if a cross marked twice is wrong. It was different for each

station… It also depended on who they wanted to win.”
- Male, 40+, Central Region

Participants listed concerns with the election system that are likely well known in Thailand
and would need to be comprehensively examined by anyone looking to reform it.

• Partisanship, cronyism
• Inadequate laws

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