THE POLITICAL PARTIES’ ROLE ON THE ELECTION DECISION MADE BY THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN THE CITY MUNICIPALITY OF AMNAT CHAROEN PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of the research were to study the decision by the general public towards the political activities that affected the election decision by the eligible voters in the city municipality of  Amnat Charoen province and to find the guidelines to develop the political parties’ role that affected a decision to elect the members of the parliament.  The samples used in the research were 392 persons aged 18 and over who resided in the city municipality of Amnat Charoen province. The research instruments were an questionnaire and an interview. Statistics used in data analysis were percentage, means, standard deviation, t-test, One-way ANOVA and content analysis. The research findings were as follows: The opinion on the political parties’ role that affected the election decision of the eligible voters in the municipality area of Amnat Charoen was overall at a moderate level (= 3.41).  As for individual aspects, they could be arranged as follows: leadership creation and political ideology (= 3.54), information and public relations, character and personality of candidates (= 3.45), support for election  (= 3.32). A minimum aspect was dissemination of knowledge and political participation (= 3.26).

            The guidelines for the development of the political parties’ role that affected the election decision by the eligible voters in the city municipality were as follows. Leadership creation and political ideology: improvement should be made in the policies to make them more practical and achievable.  Knowledge dissemination and political participation:  the political parties should be given time to present their respective policies. On election support: there should be support for the political parties to recruit more competent members of the parliament who were committed to the public interest. On information, public relations and characters of MP candidates: the policies and political activities of the political parties should be publicized to the public. The policy proposed by the political parties should not be too ideological as it might be unachievable.