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Court petition to nullify votes, suing EC over ballot barcodes/QR codes

Court petition to nullify votes, suing EC over ballot barcodes/QR codes

Prachachat•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

A Senatorial candidate has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Administrative Court, seeking to invalidate election votes and hold the Election Commission accountable over the alleged breach of electoral secrecy through barcodes and QR codes on ballots.

  • •Senator candidate Akkharawat Phongthanachalitkul filed a lawsuit against the Election Commission (EC) at the Supreme Administrative Court.
  • •The lawsuit alleges that barcodes and QR codes on ballots violate the principles of secret voting and the constitution.
  • •The plaintiff claims these codes allow the linkage of votes back to individual voters, compromising secrecy and enabling vote-buying.
  • •The case cites specific articles of the constitution and EC regulations concerning ballot secrecy and spoiled ballots.

Overview

  • •On February 16, 2026, Akkharawat Phongthanachalitkul filed a digital petition with the Supreme Administrative Court.
  • •Akkharawat Phongthanachalitkul sued the Election Commission (EC) and associated bodies.
  • •The lawsuit alleges the EC violated the law and the constitution by printing barcodes and QR codes on MP ballots.
  • •The plaintiff seeks the nullification of election votes and a temporary injunction to halt the certification of results, due to compromised ballot secrecy.
  • •The EC had previously explained these codes were for security and anti-counterfeiting, but the plaintiff argues this is insufficient, citing the absence of such codes on referendum ballots.
  • •Akkharawat Phongthanachalitkul stated that the markings on the ballot make them 'spoiled ballots' according to EC regulations, resulting in their invalidity.
  • •The lawsuit references the 2017 Constitution of Thailand, specifically Articles 85 and 53, regarding direct and secret voting.
  • •Political party leader Tawich Sodsang stated that making elections non-secret severely erodes democracy and the rule of law, in order to protect public trust.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Prachachat (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Akkharawat Phongthanachalitkul
"This makes the ballot paper a 'spoiled ballot' according to the EC's regulations on MP elections B.E. 2023."
ทำให้บัตรเลือกตั้งกลายเป็น‘บัตรเสีย’ตามระเบียบ กกต.ว่าด้วยการเลือกตั้งสส.พ.ศ.2023
Tawich Sodsang
"Whoever makes the election not secret is seen as severely eroding the democratic regime under the King and the rule of law."
ผู้ใดทำให้การเลือกตั้งไม่ลับ ถือเป็นการเซาะกร่อนบ่อนทำลายให้ระบอบประชาธิปไตยอันมีพระมหากษัตริย์เป็นประมุขและหลักนิติธรรมรุนแรงที่สุด
Tawich Sodsang
"I support citizens' legal right to scrutinize state power, as oversight is the heart of the rule of law."
ผมขอสนับสนุนการใช้สิทธิตามกฎหมายของประชาชนในการตรวจสอบการใช้อำนาจรัฐ เพราะการตรวจสอบคือหัวใจของหลักนิติธรรม

Key Entities

Organization

Supreme Administrative Court(ศาลปกครองสูงสุด)ℹ️
The highest court that hears administrative cases in Thailand.
Election Commission (EC)(กกต.)ℹ️
The governmental body responsible for organizing elections in Thailand, which is being sued over its alleged violation of electoral secrecy.
Election Commission(คณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง)ℹ️
The electoral body named as a defendant in the lawsuit regarding ballot markings.
Office of the Election Commission(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง)
The administrative arm of the Election Commission, also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Prachachat Party(พรรคประชาชาติ)ℹ️
The political party whose leader commented on the importance of secret elections and supported legal action.

Person

Akkharawat Phongthanachalitkul(นายอัครวัฒน์ พงศ์ธนาชลิตกุล)
A reserve Senatorial candidate who filed a lawsuit against the Election Commission over alleged violations of electoral secrecy.
Secretary-General of the Election Commission(เลขาธิการคณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง)
The chief administrative officer of the Election Commission, named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsung(พ.ต.อ.ทวี สอดส่อง)
A political party leader who commented on the election controversy, supporting the right to legal scrutiny and emphasizing the importance of secret ballots.

Law

Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2017 (2017)(รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พ.ศ. 2017)ℹ️
The fundamental law of Thailand that is cited as being violated by the alleged actions of the Election Commission regarding secret voting.
Organic Act on the Election of Members of Parliament B.E. 2018 (2018)(พระราชบัญญัติประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญว่าด้วยการเลือกตั้ง สส. พ.ศ. 2018)
The law governing MP elections in Thailand, with specific sections cited concerning ballot markings and spoiled ballots.
EC Regulations on the Election of Members of Parliament B.E. 2023 (2023)(ระเบียบ กกต. ว่าด้วยการเลือกตั้ง สส. พ.ศ. 2023)
Regulations issued by the Election Commission detailing the process of MP elections, including provisions on ballot validity and the definition of spoiled ballots.