Bangkok: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) confirmed that a total of 168.3 million ballots have been printed in preparation for the upcoming general election and referendum. This massive printing effort is intended to accommodate 53.4 million eligible voters across the country.
According to Thai News Agency, the ECT has clarified that the ballots have been printed in three distinct colors to avoid confusion: green for constituency elections, pink for party-list elections, and yellow for the referendum. The total number of ballots printed for each category stands at 56.1 million, including a reserve of approximately 5% to ensure ample supply during the three rounds of voting.
Ballots for voters residing outside Thailand will be distributed through the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulate-Generals, ensuring that registered voters can participate in the parliamentary elections and referendums. Similarly, sufficient ballots are allocated for advance voting, both within and outside districts, at designated central polling stations.
The ECT has also emphasized the importance of security throughout the election process, implementing measures from printing to transportation and storage. CCTV cameras will monitor the security of ballots, especially those for advance and overseas voting, which will be stored in secure locations such as police stations. Unused ballots will be destroyed after both advance and main election days.
Mr. Saeng, a spokesperson for the ECT, addressed concerns over sample referendum ballots that appeared blue in a document prepared by the Cabinet. He assured that the actual referendum ballots would be yellow and that further public awareness campaigns would be conducted to avoid confusion on voting day. Yellow sample ballots will be distributed to households and displayed at polling stations.
The democratic environment is expected to enhance voter turnout, with Mr. Saeng expressing optimism about the participation levels in the referendum, coinciding with the general election. Public relations efforts will focus on informing voters about the referendum's key issues, aiming for a comprehensive understanding among the electorate.
On the international front, Mr. Mangkon Pratumkaew, Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the dispatch of election and referendum equipment to 67 countries. Thai embassies and consulates will organize the voting process according to their regulations, ensuring that overseas citizens can participate through various voting methods.
In Cambodia, election materials will be transported by air to Phnom Penh before being distributed to other regions. A contingency plan is in place to address any challenges, although a minimal number of registered voters are expected to vote from Cambodia, as many prefer to travel to Thailand for voting.
The ECT remains committed to conducting elections and referendums honestly, fairly, and in accordance with the law, ensuring a smooth voting process for all eligible Thai citizens.