9 Uni Groups Sue Over Barcoded Ballots in Election '69, Demand New Vote

MGR Online•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Nine university student groups have filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court protesting the February 8, 2026 election, asserting that the use of barcoded ballots violates the principle of secret voting and demanding a new election.

•Nine university student groups have filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court regarding the February 8, 2026 election.
•The lawsuit challenges the legality of ballots containing barcodes, claiming they compromise the secrecy of the vote.
•The students are requesting the court to declare the election illegal and order a new one, prohibiting the use of such barcoded ballots in future elections.
•The petitioners also seek an interim injunction to halt the certification of election results until the court makes a final ruling.

Overview

•On February 8, 2026, the Election Commission (EC) conducted an election.
•The EC's use of barcoded ballots in the February 8, 2026 election is alleged to violate the principle of secret voting.
•Nine university student groups filed a lawsuit with the Central Administrative Court, accusing the EC of conducting the February 8, 2026 election illegally.
•The students requested the court to rule the February 8, 2026 election process as unlawful.
•The students requested the EC to conduct a new election in accordance with the law.
•The students urged the court to prohibit the EC and its affiliated agencies from using QR codes or similar technologies on ballots in future elections.
•The students requested the court to temporarily suspend the announcement of the election results to prevent irreparable damage.
•The legal challenge cites previous Administrative Court rulings from 2006 (cases no. 607-608/2006) and a Constitutional Court ruling (case no. 9/2006) that established that even the potential to discern a voter's choice renders an election non-secret and potentially void.

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Key Quotes

Theeerapat Supapitpakpoon

"Accused the EC of conducting the February 8, 2026 election illegally due to producing ballots with barcodes that can identify or trace back to the voter, violating the principle of secret voting."

กล่าวหาว่า กกต.จัดการเลือกตั้งวันที่ 8 ก.พ.2026 ไม่ชอบด้วยกฎหมาย เนื่องจากจัดทำบัตรเลือกตั้งที่มีรหัส บาร์โค๊ด ซึ่งสามารถระบุหรือย้อนกลับไปถึงตัวตนของผู้ลงคะแนนได้ เป็นการละเมิดหลักการลงคะแนนลับตามรัฐธรรมนูญ

Noraset Nahongtoom

"If the court rules the order is illegal, using ballots under that illegal order in an election will also render the election illegal."

หากศาลตัดสินให้คำสั่งดังกล่าวไม่ชอบด้วยกฎหมาย การนำบัตรเลือกตั้งภายใต้คำสั่งที่ไม่ชอบกฎหมายดังกล่าวไปใช้เลือกตั้ง ย่อมทำให้การเลือกตั้งไม่ชอบด้วยกฎหมายเช่นเดียวกัน

Noraset Nahongtoom

"Merely being able to foresee who someone voted for makes the election non-secret and contrary to the constitution's intent."

เพียงแค่อยู่ในวิสัยที่สามารถล่วงรู้ได้ถึงการลงคะแนนเสียงได้นั้น ก็ย่อมทำให้การเลือกตั้งไม่เป็นความลับและขัดต่อเจตนารมณ์ของรัฐธรรมนูญแล้ว

Key Entities

Organization

9 University Student Groups(กลุ่มนิสิตนักศึกษา 9 สถาบัน)

A coalition of students from nine higher education institutions who filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the February 8, 2026 election.

Administrative Court(ศาลปกครอง)ℹ️

The judicial body responsible for hearing cases related to administrative law, including challenges to election procedures.

Election Commission (EC)(กกต.)ℹ️

The official body responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in Thailand, accused of conducting the February 8, 2026 election illegally.

Thammasat and Demonstration Group(กลุ่มธรรมศาสตร์และการชุมนุม)

A student group from Thammasat University, represented by Theeerapat Supapitpakpoon, which is part of the coalition suing the Election Commission.

Central Administrative Court(ศาลปกครองกลาง)

The specific branch of the Administrative Court where the lawsuit against the Election Commission was filed.

Center for Human Rights Lawyers(ศูนย์ทนายความเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน)

A legal aid organization providing representation to the student groups in their lawsuit against the Election Commission.

Person

Theeerapat Supapitpakpoon(นายธีรภัทร ศุภพิทักษ์ไพบูลย์)

Coordinator for the Thammasat and Demonstration Group, acting as a representative for the 9 university student groups in filing the lawsuit.

Noraset Nahongtoom(นายนรเศรษฐ์ นาหนองตูม)

A lawyer from the Center for Human Rights Lawyers representing the student groups in their legal challenge against the Election Commission.

Law

Constitution(รัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The supreme law of Thailand, which the petitioners claim was violated by the use of barcoded ballots, specifically concerning the principle of secret voting.

EC Regulations B.E. 2023(ระเบียบ กกต. ปี 2023)

Regulations issued by the Election Commission in the year 2023, which are cited as the basis for the administrative orders concerning ballot design.

Central Administrative Court Ruling, Red Case No. 607-608/2006(คำพิพากษาศาลปกครองกลาง คดีหมายเลขแดงที่ 607-608/2006)

A precedent-setting ruling by the Central Administrative Court from 2006 that declared the use of barcoded ballots illegal due to their impact on voting secrecy.

Constitutional Court Ruling No. 9/2006(คำวินิจฉัยศาลรัฐธรรมนูญที่ 9/2006)

A ruling by the Constitutional Court from 2006 that established that the mere possibility of discerning a voter's choice renders an election non-secret and potentially void.