The next general election is likely to cause the country its biggest headache ever. It will be the first time that voters will have four ballots — two for electing lawmakers and two for public referendums.
The first two ballots will include normal voting papers to elect constituency MPs and list-MPs to parliament and Government House. The third ballot will be a referendum about the content and process of planned constitutional amendments.
The real conundrum is the final ballot. It is a referendum on whether eligible voters should retain or repeal MoU 43 (2000) and MoU 44 (2001), signed with Cambodia, regarding the establishment of joint border committees to resolve land and maritime border disputes.
The fourth ballot is a fresh initiative of the new government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. It is facing pressure to address the Thai-Cambodia border issue, especially from an angry public that wants to see the government scrap both of the MoUs.
However, it remains a significant question why the Anutin government is allowing this foreign policy decision to be made by voters. Regarding the voters, deciding on the MoUs with Cambodia requires an understanding of history and its long-term effects.
Both MoUs have served as key diplomatic frameworks for the two countries to negotiate border demarcation and long-term resource sharing.
Political experts have publicly warned about the troubles ahead. Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn even warned that parliament could face delays in passing the required organic laws for elections and referendums.
A delay in parliament would mean another big political conflict for the Anutin government, which may face protests if it stays beyond the promised four-month term in office.
But the biggest challenge is preparing voters for the referendum. How will the government provide quality, well-balanced information for the public to decide?
Elections and public referendums require more than just setting days and venues, as both issues are complex and highly politicised.
Charter amendment has been a divisive issue. The opposition People’s Party and its pro-democracy allies have been campaigning for the rewriting of a new charter, aiming for drastic reforms.
The conservative camp and its political parties, meanwhile, prefer the least amount of amendments to the charter, opposing a full rewrite.
Another challenge now is providing voters with access to fair and balanced information, rather than propaganda from political camps. With the ongoing border conflict and surge of jingoism, it remains a big question whether voters can obtain sensible and quality information.
How will the government provide an honest view on the pros and cons of both MoUs without fearing backlash? How can voters digest the complex situation and make informed decisions?
The referendum has been enshrined as the mantra of a direct democracy. Mr Anutin said his decision to run the referendum is a form of “showing respect to public opinion”.
No matter how inspiring this sounds, the reality is that the referendum will only be successful if voters are well-informed on the matters at hand. The onus now falls on MPs and the Election Commission to run a campaign that communicates to voters and educates them.