Bangkok: Associate Professor Dr. Prinya Thevanarumitkul, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, has raised concerns over the destruction of ballot papers by the Election Commission, questioning whether the procedure adhered to established regulations. Dr. Prinya shared his thoughts on Facebook, highlighting the mystery surrounding the destruction of remaining ballots and the necessity of printing new ones for recent re-elections.
According to Thai News Agency, during the re-elections held at certain polling stations last Sunday, the Election Commission utilized ballot papers that retained barcodes but lacked ballot stubs with booklet and ballot numbers, as depicted in news photographs. The commission cited the destruction of all remaining ballots as the reason for printing new ones.
Dr. Prinya queried the decision, considering that 56.1 million pink and green ballots were printed for the elections. With a voter turnout of 65% (or possibly 69% if fully counted), approximately 20 million ballots should have remained. He questioned why these were not used instead of being destroyed and reprinted without the necessary ballot number and stub.
Dr. Prinya reviewed the 2023 parliamentary election regulations concerning ballot paper destruction. Article 252 specifies that both used ballots and "full books of remaining ballots" can only be destroyed following criteria outlined in the second paragraph. These include conditions where the election results have been announced without objections, no related offenses, and no pending legal cases related to the ballots.
The election faced numerous objections and complaints, resulting in recounts and re-elections at many polling stations. The official election results have not been announced, and the deadline for appeals remains open, with several lawsuits ongoing. Dr. Prinya questioned the decision to destroy remaining ballots under these circumstances.
Additionally, Dr. Prinya emphasized that even if the criteria of Section 252 are fulfilled, Section 253 mandates the appointment of a central ballot destruction committee by the Secretary-General. He urged the Election Commission to clarify whether such a committee was appointed and if the destruction complied with Article 252 regulations.
Dr. Prinya called on the Election Commission to address public suspicions and clarify the situation to prevent further allegations of irregularities. The commission's transparency in addressing these concerns is crucial to maintaining public trust.