Bangkok: The Constitutional Court has mandated additional witness questioning in response to concerns that the use of vote ballots featuring barcodes and QR codes may compromise ballot secrecy and contravene the Constitution.
According to Thai News Agency, the Constitutional Court reviewed a petition from the Ombudsman who received 22 complaints urging the Court to evaluate the Election Commission's methods in conducting the general election for members of the House of Representatives on February 8, 2026. The petitioner argued that the format and printing of ballot papers, which included barcodes and QR codes, could potentially be traceable, thus violating the confidentiality of the voting process. This practice was claimed to contradict several constitutional articles including Articles 4, 25, 32, 34, 50(7), 83 paragraph two, 85, 95, and 224.
The Election Commission, serving as the respondent, submitted an amended list of witnesses on April 24, 2026, following a previous list dated April 17, 2026. The Constitutional Court has decided that to ensure a comprehensive evaluation, all witnesses must provide written statements. Furthermore, relevant agencies or individuals are required to submit their written opinions, along with any pertinent documents and evidence, to the Court within 15 days of receiving the documents. This will aid the Court in making an informed decision regarding the case.