Constitutional Court hears witnesses in ballot barcode case

MGR Online•Politics•12h ago

Reader Briefing

The Constitutional Court began hearing five witnesses regarding the use of barcodes and QR codes on election ballots.

•The Constitutional Court heard five witnesses on August 26.
•The case concerns the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballots from the February 8, 2026 general election.
•The court denied the request for live audio and video broadcasting of the proceedings.
•The Ombudsman filed the petition based on 22 complaints.

•On August 26 at 10:30 AM, the Constitutional Court convened to hear five witnesses.
•The Ombudsman petitioned the Constitutional Court under Section 213 regarding the Election Commission's management of the general election on February 8, 2026.
•The petition claims that the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballots could allow the identity of voters and the results to be traced, violating several constitutional sections.
•Narong Klanwarin, Chairperson of the Election Commission, attended the hearing as an observer.
•The court allowed Acting Second Lieutenant Phasakorn Siriphakhayaphon, Deputy Secretary-General of the Election Commission, to demonstrate the ballot collection process.
•The court ordered a halt to the live broadcast because disclosing anti-counterfeiting measures on ballots could compromise security and political stability.
•Judge Wirun Saengthian instructed individuals in the courtroom not to disclose information from the hearing to outsiders.
•The proceedings were limited to individuals permitted by the court under Section 59, paragraph one of the Organic Act on Procedures of the Constitutional Court 2018.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The court conducting the witness hearings regarding the ballot barcode case.

Election Commission(คณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง)

The organization that managed the general election on February 8, 2026 and requested the broadcast halt.

Ombudsman(ผู้ตรวจการแผ่นดิน)ℹ️

The entity that filed the petition with the Constitutional Court based on 22 complaints.

T.K.S. Technology Public Company Limited(ที.เค.เอส. เทคโนโลยี จำกัด (มหาชน))

A company whose director served as a witness in the court hearing.

Janvanich Security Printing Company Limited(จันวาณิชย์ ซีเคียวริตี้ พริ้นท์ติ้ง จำกัด)

A company whose director served as a witness in the court hearing.

Narong Klanwarin(ณรงค์ กลั่นวารินทร์)

Chairperson of the Election Commission who observed the court hearing.

Nitriya Rattanathasanee(นิตรีญา รัตนทัศนีย์)

Professional Computer Academic at the Office of the Election Commission and a court witness.

Woraphong Anantcharoenkit(วรพงศ์ อนันต์เจริญกิจ)

Director of the Election Support Bureau at the Office of the Election Commission and a court witness.

Phakphum Phuudom(ภาคภูมิ ภูอุดม)

Director of T.K.S. Technology Public Company Limited and a court witness.

Kanyanat Pikulthong(กัญญาณัฐ พิกุลทอง)

Director of Janvanich Security Printing Company Limited and a court witness.

Sawaeng Boonmee(แสวง บุญมี)

Secretary-General of the Election Commission and a court witness.

Phasakorn Siriphakhayaphon(ภาสกร สิริภคยาพร)

Acting Second Lieutenant and Deputy Secretary-General of the Election Commission who demonstrated the ballot collection process.

Wirun Saengthian(วิรุฬห์แสงเทียน)ℹ️

The judge assigned to conduct the inquiry.

Organic Act on Procedures of the Constitutional Court 2018(พ.ร.ป.ว่าด้วยวิธีพิจารณาของศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ 2561)

The law under which the court determined the persons allowed in the deliberation room.

Constitution(รัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The supreme law whose sections 4, 25, 32, 34, 50(7), 83, 85, 95, and 224 are allegedly violated.