Bangkok: People are gradually casting their votes in the by-election at polling station 9, constituency 15, Khan Na Yao district, but the turnout remains sparse. Many said they were unaware that a by-election was scheduled for today.
According to Thai News Agency, half a day has passed since the re-election at polling station 9, constituency 15, Khan Na Yao district, Bangkok, located at the Amornphan-Satellite Condo Town (R4). Voters have been gradually arriving to cast their ballots since 8:00 AM, but turnout remains sparse. Polling station 9, constituency 15, Khan Na Yao has a total of 716 eligible voters. Today, these voters will have to cast their ballots again for the constituency-based MPs, party-list MPs, and the referendum. This is because a severe thunderstorm on February 8th damaged ballot papers and tally sheets, preventing the completion of the vote count.
Today, our news team spoke with voters who said they intended to exercise their right to vote in the new election today. They also voted on February 8th, but this time they didn't know the reason for the re-election. However, they said the public awareness campaign had been sufficient.
Similarly, Ms. Punyanuch admitted that she was unaware of the re-election at her polling station today and only learned about it from her mother. She hopes that the public will be informed more thoroughly because she intends to exercise her right to vote every time and believes that one vote, one voice, is important. At the same time, she remains concerned about transparency after following news about the ballot papers containing barcodes and QR codes.
Mr. Sampan Saengkhamlert, Director of the Election Commission for Bangkok, inspected the preparations and observed the voting process from before the polls opened. He noted the readiness of materials, equipment, and polling stations, including preparations for the weather conditions. He confirmed that vote counting would be completed at the polling stations today. Regarding the ballots from the February 8th election, he stated they have been stored and are ready for later destruction. He anticipates a voter turnout of approximately 70%, or around 500 people.
Regarding barcodes and QR codes, we remain confident that the process is confidential, as the Election Commission is striving to ensure it remains direct and secret. We have instructed officials to conduct all procedures with clarity, including vote counting. Furthermore, we emphasize that eligible voters are not permitted to photograph their ballots or ballot stubs.
The atmosphere during the recount at polling station 10, constituency 15, Khan Na Yao district, a nearby polling station, was tense. On February 8th, the counting equipment was damaged by heavy rain, but the ballot boxes were unaffected. The media paid close attention to the recount, and members of the public closely observed the process from its beginning until its conclusion about half an hour ago.