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During this study, the researcher relies on the qualitative approach and the methods of
survey research, documentary research, as well as field research using the in-depth and focus

group interview methods. The research informants include the candidates for the PAO Chief
Executive and Councilor positions (both in the areas of Mueang District and the other districts),
the political parties’ supporters, the independent political groups’ supporters, relevant
government agencies (e.g., the Election Commission officials and the local officials involved with

the election administration), the Political Science academicians, the local leaders who are the
support network of the political leaders in Chiang Mai, and the qualified voters in Chiang Mai.
Regarding the survey research method, the researcher uses the questionnaires to ask the Chiang
Mai people who are two different groups of qualified voters: the university students (the new

generation) and the general public. The study also utilizes the quantitative method of simple
random sampling. The samples comprise the qualified voters living in 15 districts of Chiang Mai
(236 samples) and the young adults aged 18-24 who are Chiang Mai University students (400
samples). This research collected the data during November 2020 – January 2021.

The Chiang Mai PAO election reflects the role of the PAO Chief Executive contestants as
the leader of the provincewide electoral competition in which the PAO Councilor candidates
support and promote the role of the PAO Chief Executive candidate and endorse the leadership
of the PAO Chief Executive candidate from their own group—despite the two-ballot system. In
this election, there were 6 candidates for the PAO Chief Executive position: Mr. Pichai

Lertpongadisorn (Number 1) from the Pheu Thai Party; Mr. Boonlert Buranupakorn (Number 2)
from the Chiang Mai Khunnatham Group; Mr. Vinit Jinjai (Number 3) from the Chiang Mai Kao Mai
Group; Mr. Bodin Kinawong (Number 4) from the Pracharat Chiang Mai Group; and the 2

independent candidates—Mr. Wasan Watchawong (Number 5) and Mr. Chaloemsak Suranan
(Number 6).

The study finds that the evolution of the Chiang Mai PAO election began with the political
space dominance of the political groups linked to political families and the persons with social
and economic influence in the province. After the enactment of the Constitution of the Kingdom

of Thailand B.E. 2540 (1997), Thailand promoted the decentralization to the LAOs and the
strengthening of the electoral system via political parties, thus resulting in the increasing role of
political parties in supporting and promoting the local politicians and local political groups in
order to maintain the electoral base and link local politics to national politics more intensely.

During the PAO election on December 20, 2020, political parties had an obvious role in nominating
electoral candidates as political party representative. In Chiang Mai, there were candidates from
the Pheu Thai Party and independent candidates presenting their groups as having ties with the
national level political parties. This was a sequel of the general election in 2019, as the names of

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โครงการศึกษาการเลือกตั้งระดับท้องถิ่น ปี 2563: การเลือกตั้งสมาชิกสภาองค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดและนายกองค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดเชียงใหม่