Election Politics: A case study of the election of mayor and council members in Kham Riang sub-district municipality, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

These research objectives are 1) to study the election behavior of people at the local level; 2) to study people's opinions on local elections; and 3) to study factors of people's decision-making in voting for mayor and municipal council members of Kham Riang sub-district Municipality. This research study utilizes mixed method, both quantitative and qualitative, with questionnaire samples of 445 people. The random sampling questionnaires use checklist, Rating scale, and open-ended questionnaires. This study analyzes the data with statistics using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. It also utilizes the in-depth interviews with samples. The study found that 1. People went to vote because they wanted to get good people to make the local area better. The majority of citizens decide on the candidates for mayors and council members after listening to policies/discussions with candidates or candidates’ canvassers. And most people agree that in this election there are vote-buying incidents from the candidates’ canvassers. 2. People have opinions on this election that Candidates who win this election will be able to improve people's lives. And most of the people prefer the mayors who are elected than the ones that are appointed. 3. Decision-making factors of the people in voting in the election. It was found that the candidates are the first factor that people decide on their votes. Policies and candidates’ election campaigns are second and third factors. These factors are the same for both mayoral and council member elections.