What you can't do this weekend

By The Nation
www.nationmultimedia.com/

Election authorities and police yesterday laid down the law for the big day, including a ban on vote-buying or accepting money or other benefits in exchange for votes.

Selling booze and gambling on election results are also disallowed.

People involved in the election campaign, the public, mass media, eligible voters, and businesses were reminded to be aware of and heed the prohibitions in the election law.

Maj-General Prawut Thawornsiri, National Police spokesman, said yesterday that the ban on the sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks started from 6pm on the eve of election day and ended at midnight of the polling day on Sunday.

The aim is to prevent election candidates and their canvassers wooing votes by giving away free drinks or throwing parties.

The law prohibits advertising and campaigning, as well as the attacking of rivals, from 6pm tomorrow to Sunday.

This year the Election Commission will look at the social-network accounts - mainly Facebook and Twitter - of political parties and election candidates to make sure that they do not violate this rule.

EC inspector-general Chonrat Jitnaitham said the ban was aimed at preventing candidates from trying to influence voters, so any "violation" made after the closing of polling stations would likely be disregarded because it would not sway votes.

Voters are warned against wearing shirts showing any candidacy number into polling stations, including jerseys of their favourite soccer team that carry the number of their favourite player.

The law also proscribes attempting to prevent eligible voters from going to the polls, arranging free transport for voters, tearing ballots, taking photos of marked ballots and releasing the result of any opinion survey seven days before election day until closing time.


-- The Nation 2011-07-01