The law needs to be amended before a referendum on the first charter is held, according to Chartthaipattana Party list-MP Nikorn Chamnong, who heads a sub-committee on the charter referendum.
Speaking after a meeting with concerned parties, including representatives from the Election Commission (EC), Pheu Thai Party and Move Forward Party (MFP), Mr Nikorn said the government is gathering opinions from all parties as it seeks to revise the Referendum Act 2021.
The government-sponsored bill to amend the referendum law will be posted on the website of the Permanent Secretary's Office of the PM's Office to gather public feedback for at least 15 days, starting today, before it is improved and sent to the cabinet for approval, he said.
Mr Nikorn said the amendments aim to enhance the law and make it more comprehensive and applicable to all issues, not just the constitution.
They seek to allow a referendum to be held along with an election contest to save costs and time and to allow for voting via post or electronic means. Importantly, it proposes abolishing the "double majority" rule, which requires more than 50% of eligible voters to participate in a referendum and a majority of those voting to approve the new charter.
Mr Nikorn said the amendment bill could be submitted for its first reading when parliament opens a special sitting to deliberate the Budget Bill for the 2025 fiscal year, with the first charter referendum likely to take place within five months of the amended law being enforced.
MFP list MP Parit Wacharasindhu said the government should seek a special parliamentary session as soon as possible to deliberate the amendments.
He said the bills sponsored by the MFP and the ruling Pheu Thai have been put on the House agenda and should be examined in the special session regardless of whether the government can submit its version in time.
Mr Parit also reiterated his call for the government to revise the first charter referendum question to increase the chance of the amendment proposal being adopted.
Voters should be asked if they agree with the writing of a new charter instead of being asked if they agree with writing one without changing Chapters 1 and 2, as planned by the government, he said.
The government can uphold its promise not to amend those two chapters by limiting the scope of the work of the charter-drafting assembly when revising Section 256 to pave the way for a charter-writing body, Mr Parit added.
Pheu Thai list-MP Chusak Sirinil said the entire process of amending the referendum law, including screening by the new Senate, is expected to take no more than six months, so the first referendum should be held soon after.