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104 ENHANCING ELECTIONS AS INSTRUMENTS OF DEMOCRACY IN THE ASEAN REGION

Up to the present, the Election Commission of Thailand has
been established as a constitutional organization for 19 years with

the above mentioned roles authorized by the Constitutions. However,
Thai people are still closely monitoring their performance in terms of
efficiency, effectiveness and capacity in achieving the main goal of the

Election Commission.

On 7 August 2016, Thailand’s second constitutional referendum

was held as part of the national reform process. The draft constitution
was approved by 61.35 percent of voters (16,820,402 votes) with a 59.4

percent turnout (29,740,677 voters) out of 50,071,589 eligible voters.

With regard to the second proposal asking whether the Thai
voters approve that for contributing continuity of the country reform

according to the national strategic plan, it should be stipulated in the
Transitory Provisions of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand that
for the duration of 5 years from the first sitting of the National Assembly

under this constitution; the joint sitting of the two chambers of the
National Assembly shall convene to consider approving a person to be

appointed as the Prime Minister. The proposal was approved by 58.07
percent of voters (15,132,050 votes) with a ‘No’ faction of 41.93 percent
(10,926,648 votes).

The result of the referendum led to the process of drafting 10
organic laws by the Constitution Drafting Commission, 4 of which are

relevant to the Election Commission:

• Organic law on the election of members of the House of

Representatives