Constitutional Court upholds 20-year voting ban for invalid candidates

MGR Online•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

The Constitutional Court ruled that a 20-year revocation of voting rights for candidates who knowingly lack qualifications is constitutional.

•The Constitutional Court voted 7 to 1 to uphold Section 120 of the Election of Members of Local Councils or Local Administrators Act 2019.
•The ruling concerns the legality of a 20-year voting rights ban for those who apply for local election while knowing they lack qualifications.
•The case originated from a challenge by Mr. Kiattikun Suknet, a defendant in a criminal case.
•The ruling was delivered on August 5.

•On August 5, the Constitutional Court issued a ruling on the constitutionality of the Election of Members of Local Councils or Local Administrators Act 2019.
•The Constitutional Court voted with a majority of 7 to 1 that the 20-year revocation of voting rights under Section 120 of the Act does not conflict with Section 26, paragraph one, of the Constitution.
•The case arose after the Appeal Court Region 2 forwarded a challenge from Mr. Kiattikun Suknet, the defendant in criminal case black number A2212/2025 and red number A4427/2025.
•Section 120 of the Election of Members of Local Councils or Local Administrators Act 2019 stipulates that anyone applying for election while knowing they lack qualifications faces 1 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 baht, and a 20-year revocation of voting rights.
•Seven judges—Mr. Udom Sitthiwirattham, Mr. Jiraniti Hawanon, Mr. Napadol Teppitak, Mr. Banjongsak Wongprat, Mr. Udom Ratthamrit, Mr. Sumeth Roikulcharoen, and Mr. Sarawut Songsiwilai—voted that the law is not unconstitutional.
•One judge, Mr. Wirun Saengtian, voted that the law is unconstitutional.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The judicial body that ruled on the constitutionality of the voting rights ban.

Appeal Court Region 2(ศาลอุทธรณ์ภาค 2)

The court that forwarded the challenge from the defendant to the Constitutional Court.

Election of Members of Local Councils or Local Administrators Act 2019(พ.ร.บ.การเลือกตั้ง สมาชิกสภาท้องถิ่นหรือผู้บริหารท้องถิ่น พ.ศ. 2562)

The law whose Section 120 regarding the 20-year voting rights ban was challenged.