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The Election Commission (EC) in Thailand announced that the country’s general elections would be held on Sunday, May 14, according to the Bangkok Post.

Advanced voting will commence a week earlier on May 7, the EC said on Mar. 21.

The announcement of the election date comes one day after the dissolution of Thailand’s parliament on Mar. 20.

At a news conference, the Secretary-General of the EC, Sawaeng Boonmee, said that they will endorse a minimum of 95 per cent of votes within 60 days after the elections, according to CNN.

“We would like everyone to respect the rules … for smooth elections,” he told reporters.

Dates to take note

Eligible voters who wish to participate in advance voting can register their intention to vote from Mar. 27 to Apr. 13, Bangkok Post reported.

Constituency candidates will be able to apply for their registration from Apr. 3 to Apr. 7 at designated locations.

Party candidates will submit their applications from Apr. 4 to 7 at Bangkok’s City Hall. The same goes for submissions for prime ministerial nominees by political parties.

A budget of 5.94 billion baht (S$231 million) has also been approved by the caretaker Cabinet for the EC to hold the elections, according to the Nation Thailand.

As of time of writing, there is no information released for overseas voters yet.

Eligible Thai voters in Singapore can keep a lookout for announcements by the Royal Thai Embassy of Singapore.

Major contesting parties

Parties are preparing to campaign for the support of an electorate of around 52 million people, Reuters reported.

Campaigning by political parties have already begun and are expected to ramp up in the upcoming two months.

The elections will see a major contest between United Thai Nation Party led by Thailand’s prime minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha and the biggest opposition party, Pheu Thai.

The party is led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of the country’s former exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pheu Thai would likely hold daily campaigning events across the country during this period, according to the Bangkok Post.

Shinawatra, who is seven months pregnant, will be heavily involved and has apparently been one of the top selections for prime minister in opinion polls.

Domestic political situation

Parties led by the Shinawatras have won most seats in Thailand’s elections since 2001, but they have also been ousted from power multiple times, The Guardian reported.

Nevertheless, the family remains popular in the rural regions of the country, notably in the north and northeast.

Prayuth, who will be running for re-election, told the press on Mar. 21 that his Cabinet was in control of the country, according to CNN.

The elections come amidst the possible waning of Thailand’s military government as well as an ongoing succession crisis within the Thai monarchy.

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Top image via Getty - AFP/LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA