Abstract:
The purposes of this research were to study the role of election canvassers in affecting the election of the mayor of Koh Samui Municipality, Surat Thani Province; to compare personal factors and the role of election canvassers in affecting the election; and to suggest guidelines for further promoting the election campaign. This research was quantitative research. The population were 300 election canvassers of mayoral candidates of Koh Samui Municipality, Surat Thani Province. The samples were 172 based on Yamanes formula. The research was a quantitative research, utilizing a questionnaire as the research tool. The statistical techniques were Mean, percentage, standard deviation, t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation coefficient.
The results of the research found that: 1) the role of election canvasser affecting the election of the mayor of Koh Samui Municipality ,in overall, was at a moderate level, which in each aspect of the role of election canvasser, behavior of election canvasser was at a high level and coordination, communication and method utilization aspects were at moderate level respectively; 2) the differences in personal factors, different educational level and position, affected attitudes towards the role of election canvasser affecting the election of the mayor of Koh Samui Municipality at statistical significant level of.05, but the personal factors such as gender, age, occupation, monthly income, personal relationship with candidates, and communication channels did not affected attitudes towards the role of election canvasser affecting the election of the mayor of Koh Samui Municipality; 3) guidelines for promoting the election campaign for Mayor of Koh Samui Municipality were that systematized election canvasser process, especially clarification of duty and evaluation , development competency of election canvasser, especially communication technology skill and personality.
Keywords: election canvasser, mayor, Koh Samui Municipality