Factors Affecting People’s Political Participation in Election of Local Administrators of Rong Phong Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were 1) to study the factors affecting political participation; 2) to study Iddhipada 4 on the factors affecting political participation; and 3) to study the problems, obstacles, and suggestions. It was a mixed methods research. The quantitative research used a survey research method. The sample group consisted of 368 legal voters in Rong Fong Subdistrict, and Nam Cham Subdistrict, Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province. The sample size was determined using Taro Yamane's calculation formula. The statistics used in the research were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression. The qualitative research selected 10 specific key informants using in-depth interviews and descriptive content analysis was used to support the context. The research results found that 1) the factors affecting political participation of  people, as a whole, had a moderate mean (= 3.34, S.D. = 0.32); 2) the components of Iddhipada 4 can discuss the variations in the factors affecting political participation of people in election of local administrators of Rong Fong Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province, obtained 46.00 percent, with the component of Citta, attention to that thing (X₁₃) having the highest effect, with a standard regression coefficient (β) = 0.279, and 3) the problems and obstacles found that people had a low understanding of the roles and duties of being citizens in political participation. Most of them still had a preference for individuals, independence, freedom in exchanging political information, and the necessity of living caused less voting rights. In terms of recommendations, there should be promotion of people’s knowledge and understanding of local administrator elections, creating a process of awareness and knowledge for people. Public relations on information and participation in elections should be promoted to reach personal media. There should be opportunities for the public to express their political opinions appropriately, and they should be encouraged to form groups to promote political participation at the local level.