Bangkok: The Election Commission is embroiled in a debate concerning new ballot papers in three polling units and has ordered a recount in over 20 additional polling units.
According to Thai News Agency, the meeting remained inconclusive on whether the newly printed ballots should maintain the same format, which includes serial numbers, ballot numbers, and barcodes, as those used in the February 8th election. Any alteration could spark legal challenges over the differences between ballots from the general election and those intended for re-election. This issue adds to the current allegations against the Election Commission that printing barcodes on ballots may violate the constitution, potentially invalidating the election.
The Election Commission is also expected to initiate a recount in over 20 polling units following a report from the EC office, indicating a discrepancy between the number of ballots cast and the number of registered voters. This "ballot discrepancy" is evident in the voter registration figures for both constituency and party-list MPs, as shown on the ECT Report 69 website. The discrepancy of over 66,000 votes has delayed the EC's release of official vote counts. Should the EC decide to proceed with a recount, it is anticipated to occur towards the end of February.
Additionally, at a meeting on February 16th, the EC summoned the Director of Elections for Samut Prakan Province to supply further information regarding the discovery of discarded tally sheets in Constituency 6. These sheets were found at the Lat Luang Municipal landfill in Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province. An investigation revealed irregularities, with incomplete tally sheets and incorrect stamping reported by a polling officer. The officer signed off on the error and used replacement sheets to finalize the count, witnessed by citizens at the polling station. The completed sheets were stored in ballot boxes, while the damaged ones were stored separately. The ongoing investigation seeks to determine how these sheets ended up in the landfill and whether it was a deliberate act.
Furthermore, the Election Commission has decided against holding press conferences during this period, as previous attempts have led to misinterpretations and exaggerations. Instead, the EC will prioritize written communications to convey explanations.
In response to a complaint filed with the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) regarding traceable barcodes on ballot papers, the EC office has sent a clarification letter addressing the legal concerns. The letter assures that the election was conducted directly and secretly in polling booths. The EC is currently preparing a response to the Ombudsman's request for clarification, which was recently received.