Lawmaker Asks High Court to Rule on Ballot Barcode Legality

MGR Online•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

A Thai politician has petitioned the Ombudsman to have the Constitutional Court rule on whether the barcodes on election ballots violate the constitution by compromising voting secrecy.

•Mongkolkit Suksintharanont, a prime ministerial candidate for the New Alternatives Party, is challenging the Election Commission's use of barcodes on ballots.
•He argues that these barcodes allow tracking of who a voter voted for, violating the constitutional right to a direct and secret ballot.
•The politician also criticized NIDA's poll results, which deemed the election excellent, suggesting bias and calling for the polling agency to cease operations.
•He anticipates the case will reach the Constitutional Court and expresses hope for a ruling based on the rule of law.

Overview

•Mongkolkit Suksintharanont stated that he would submit a letter to the Ombudsman regarding the Election Commission's use of barcodes on election ballots.
•The barcodes on House of Representatives ballots, both party-list and constituency, can be traced to identify who cast the vote and for whom, violating Article 85 of the constitution concerning direct and secret voting.
•The Ombudsman has the authority to propose the case to the Administrative Court or submit it to the Constitutional Court immediately.
•Evidence from the 2026 election indicates issues such as an excess of green ballots over pink ones, recorded votes contradicting board displays, and discrepancies with online vote counts, suggesting an incomplete election process.
•Mongkolkit Suksintharanont criticized NIDA's poll stating the election was excellent, suggesting NIDA should close its agency and pursue other professions.
•Mongkolkit Suksintharanont performed 20 push-ups after his interview as per his party's policy before heading to the Ombudsman.
•The Constitution Court's deliberation is expected to be the conclusion of this election case.
•Mongkolkit Suksintharanont believes that if the court rules according to the rule of law, the country will not face chaos.

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Key Quotes

Mongkolkit Suksintharanont

"I'm confused too, whose home did NIDA survey for their poll, or did they survey at Mr. Sa-nguan's home? To say this election was excellent, I suggest NIDA close down their polling agency and do something else. This time is shameful, if I were to give a grade, it would be a D dog, an F."

ผมก็งงเหมือนกัน ว่านิด้าไปสำรวจโพลบ้านใคร หรือไปสำรวจที่บ้านของนายแสวงหรือไม่ จึงบอกว่าการเลือกตั้งครั้งนี้เยี่ยมมาก จึงบอกว่านิด้าปิดสำนักโพลได้แล้ว ปิดแล้วไปทำอาชีพอื่น ครั้งนี้บัดสีบัดเถลิงถ้าให้เกรด คงให้เกรด D dog ติด F

Mongkolkit Suksintharanont

"I'm confused too, whose home did NIDA poll, or did they poll at Mr. Sa-nguan's home? To say this election was excellent,"

ผมก็งงเหมือนกัน ว่านิด้าไปสำรวจโพลบ้านใคร หรือไปสำรวจที่บ้านของนายแสวงหรือไม่ จึงบอกว่าการเลือกตั้งครั้งนี้เยี่ยมมาก

Key Entities

Person

Tae(เต้)

A politician, also known as Tae, who is a prime ministerial candidate for the New Alternatives Party and has petitioned the Ombudsman regarding election ballot barcodes.

Mongkolkit Suksintharanont(นายมงคลกิตติ์ สุขสินธารานนท์)

A prime ministerial candidate for the New Alternatives Party who has raised concerns about election ballot barcodes.

Sa-nguan Bunmee(นายแสวง บุญมี)

The Secretary-General of the Election Commission, who previously clarified the EC's stance on ballot security.

Organization

Ombudsman(ผู้ตรวจฯ)ℹ️

The Ombudsman's office, which is being petitioned to forward a complaint about election ballot barcodes to the Constitutional Court.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The Constitutional Court, which is being asked to rule on the legality of election ballot barcodes.

New Alternatives Party(พรรคทางเลือกใหม่)

The political party for which Mongkolkit Suksintharanont is a prime ministerial candidate.

Election Commission(กกต.)ℹ️

The Election Commission, which is accused of using barcodes on ballots that compromise voter privacy.

NIDA(นิด้า)ℹ️

An organization whose recent election poll results are criticized as being out of touch with public sentiment and potentially biased.

Administrative Court(ศาลปกครอง)ℹ️

The Administrative Court, to which the Ombudsman has the authority to propose election-related cases.

Law

Constitution Article 85(รัฐธรรมนูญ มาตรา 85)

The article of the constitution that guarantees direct and secret voting, which Mongkolkit Suksintharanont alleges is violated by ballot barcodes.