It's official!

Cabinet on Tuesday approved a Royal Decree setting December 23 as election day.

Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Sutthiphol Thaweechaikarn told journalists after reporting on poll preparations to the weekly Cabinet meeting that the Cabinet had approved the decree which will be presented to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej for royal endorsement next week.

The poll agency proposed that the decree take effect one day after being officially announced in the Royal Gazette.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, concurrently interior minister, said earlier that he would work closely with the EC to to ensure that the next general election is held in a free and fair manner.

The polling agency would begin the registration of election candidates in early November.

Thai citizens living overseas and outside their constituencies will be allowed to register to cast ballots in advance voting.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said he would seek Cabinet approval to lift martial law in 11 provinces and reimpose it in three other provinces following calls from politicians that martial law be lifted prior to the polling date.

The 11 provinces where martial law will be lifted are Prachuap Khiri Khan, Petchaburi, Ratchaburi, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Kamphaeng Phet, Nong Bua Lamphu and Udon Thani.

Martial law will be reintroduced in Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan, three northeastern provinces viewed as political strongholds of the former ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, now disbanded, which was founded by ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was deposed in the September 19 coup last year. (TNA)