The election behavior for the Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani (in the election on 28 March 2021) and the impacts of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019)

Abstract

This research of the election behavior for the Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani (in the election on 28 March 2021) and the impacts of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019) aims to analyse the election behavior for the Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani (in the election on 28 March 2021) and the impacts of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019). This qualitative research proposes these following findings; (1) According to the study of the election behavior for the Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani on 28 March 2021, (1.1) 71.02 % of the eligible voters went to the polls for the members of municipal council and the Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani. It was higher than that of the National Election on 24 March 2019 which was 70.853, the election of Provincial Administrative Organization of Ubon Ratchathani which was 63.02, and the election of the municipal council members and the mayors of Ubon Ratchthani throughout the province on average which was 70.12. (1.2) It is found that there were 24 objections of the election. (1.3) After the election for the Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani, the candidate number 1 Pittaya Chaisongkhram (The Group of Pheu Thai Nakhon Ubon) won over the key opponent which was number 2 Pracha Kittrongsiri (The Group of Pheu Ubon). (1.4) The factors of this election victory was that (1.4.1) The network of the group which was Pheu Thai Party led by Kan Kantinan won the election of the Provincial Administrative Organization. Likewise, in the National Election in 2019, Pheu Thai Party won 7 electorates out of 10. Especially, the electorate 1 which was the political base for Pittaya Chaisongkhram’s husband, Worrasit Kantinan who has been the member of parliament during the past three national elections. (1.4.2) Personal factors must also be mentioned. According to the study on the candidate’s fieldwork, Pittaya Chaisongkhram (The Group of Pheu Thai Nakhon Ubon) had spent a long time preparing herself and setting up the staff for the election. (1.4.3) The policy of the candidate is prominent such as the renovation of the municipality market or Talat Yai, the Mun riverside walking street, the ring-road that reaches the reservoir of Huai Wang Nong. (1.4.4) Voting-buying and other factors are on the list. (2) The impacts of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019) are that the act complicated the election in the process of application and the candidates’ election campaigns. It does not fit with the current situation. Especially, the regulations that prohibit the candidates not to run the election campaigns, the indication of the unqualified candidates as they had not voted in the previous elections of the members and the chief executive of provincial administrative organization and whose name had been revoked by the election commission in the previous elections. It is recommended that such limitation and complication should be reduced because it is the obstacle to the candidates. Especially, the regulations that prohibit candidates not to run the election campaigns, the indication of the unqualified candidates as they had not voted in the previous elections of the members and the chief executive of provincial administrative organization and whose name had been revoked by the election commission in the previous elections.