Senate Chairman: Barcode vote renders election non-secret and ruined

Khaosod•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Senate committee chairman declares the election compromised due to barcode markings on ballots, questioning secrecy and allowing voter identification.

•A Senate committee chairman stated that barcodes on election ballots compromise the secrecy of voting by allowing results to be traced.
•The committee has scheduled a meeting on February 17 to discuss a case where citizens are suing the Election Commission for demanding a recount in Chonburi.
•Concerns are raised about the Election Commission's ballot handling procedures, which allegedly lead to ballots being combined with stubs, negating secrecy.

Overview

•Noraset Prachayagorn, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Political Development, stated that the presence of barcodes on ballots makes election results traceable, thus no longer a secret election.
•The discovery that election results can be traced back to individual voters, due to barcodes on ballots, has led to the declaration that the election is 'ruined'.
•The Senate Committee on Political Development is investigating public concerns regarding voting secrecy and the handling of ballots by the Election Commission.
•On February 16, 2026, Noraset Prachayagorn posted on Facebook regarding the barcode issue.
•The Senate Committee on Political Development has scheduled a meeting for February 17 at 10:00 AM to discuss the Election Commission's legal action against citizens who demanded a recount in Constituency 1, Chonburi.
•The committee has invited the Secretary-General of the Election Commission and other relevant parties to the February 17 meeting.
•The public's vote being no longer secret is seen as leading to potential vote-buying, pressure, and control over citizens.
•The Election Commission's conflicting procedures regarding ballot and stub storage have raised questions about where secrecy is maintained.

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Key Quotes

Noraseth Prachayagorn

"In cases where election results can be traced to reveal who voted for whom, it is no longer a secret election."

กรณีที่คะแนนเลือกตั้งย้อนรู้ได้ว่าใครเลือกใคร ไม่ใช่การเลือกตั้งโดยลับอีกต่อไป

Noraseth Prachayagorn

"Once the public's vote is no longer secret, it means this election has completely failed."

พอการออกเสียงเลือกตั้งของประชาชนไม่ใช่ความลับ เท่ากับการเลือกตั้งครั้งนี้พังเรียบร้อย

Key Entities

Person

Noraseth Prachayagorn(นายนรเศรษฐ์ ปรัชญากร)

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Political Development, Participation of the People, Human Rights, Liberties, and Consumer Protection.

Parinya Thewanarumitkul(นายปริญญา เทวานฤมิตรกุล)

A legal scholar from Thammasat University whose questions about the Election Commission's ballot storage procedures are highlighted.

Sa-nguan Boonyi(นายแสวง บุญมี)

Secretary-General of the Election Commission, invited to a Senate committee meeting concerning election issues.

Ms. Koomklao Songsomboon(น.ส.คุ้มเกล้า ส่งสมบูรณ์)

Head of the legal division at the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group, invited to a Senate committee meeting.

Noraseth Na-nongtoom(นายนรเศรษฐ์ นาหนองตูม)

A lawyer from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group, invited to a Senate committee meeting.

Organization

Senate(วุฒิสภา)ℹ️

The legislative body of Thailand, whose committee is investigating election transparency issues.

Committee on Political Development, Participation of the People, Human Rights, Liberties, and Consumer Protection(คณะกรรมาธิการ (กมธ.) การพัฒนาการรเมือง การมีส่วนร่วมของประชาชน สิทธิมนุษยชน สิทธิ เสรีภาพ และการคุ้มครองผู้บริโภค)

A specific committee within the Thai Senate investigating election-related concerns.

Election Commission (ECT)(กกต.)ℹ️

The official body responsible for managing elections in Thailand, which is facing scrutiny over ballot handling and legal actions.

Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️

A prominent university in Thailand where legal scholar Parinya Thewanarumitkul is affiliated.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights(ศูนย์ทนายความเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน)

A legal organization whose representatives are invited to a Senate committee meeting regarding election disputes.

Place

Constituency 1, Chonburi(เขต 1 ชลบุรี)

The specific electoral district in Chonburi province that is the subject of a dispute regarding a recount demand and subsequent legal action by the Election Commission.