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Senator Sues ECC Over Ballot Barcodes, Demands New Election; Tawee Backs Lawsuits

Senator Sues ECC Over Ballot Barcodes, Demands New Election; Tawee Backs Lawsuits

Khaosod•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

A reserve senator has filed a lawsuit against the Election Commission of Thailand (ECC) at the Supreme Administrative Court, alleging that the barcodes and QR codes printed on ballot papers violate the principle of secret voting and the constitution.

  • •Reserve Senator Akrawat Pongthanachalitkul sued the Election Commission (ECC) and related parties for malfeasance regarding the printing of barcodes and QR codes on 2024 Thai general election ballots.
  • •The lawsuit alleges these codes link ballots to voter signatures, compromising the secrecy of the vote and potentially leading to vote buying or retribution.
  • •The legal action seeks to declare the ballots invalid, compel the ECC to destroy them publicly, suspend the election results, and impose penalties and damages on the ECC officials.
  • •Democrat Party leader Tawee Sodasong has publicly supported the public's right to sue for electoral integrity and criticized the barcode printing as undermining democracy.

Overview

  • •On February 15, 2026, Reserve Senator Akrawat Pongthanachalitkul filed a lawsuit against the Election Commission (ECC).
  • •Akrawat Pongthanachalitkul submitted an electronic filing to the Supreme Administrative Court accusing the ECC of malfeasance.
  • •The lawsuit cites the printing of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers as a violation of the secret ballot principle and the constitution.
  • •The lawsuit seeks to have ballots from the February 1, 2026, and February 8, 2026, elections declared invalid.
  • •Akrawat Pongthanachalitkul stated that scanning the codes links ballots to voter signatures, revealing who voted for whom, due to the inclusion of barcodes and QR codes.
  • •The ECC had previously claimed the codes were for security and anti-counterfeiting, but the plaintiff argued this was unfounded, citing the absence of such codes in referendum ballots.
  • •Tawee Sodasong expressed support for citizens using their legal rights to scrutinize state power, emphasizing that oversight is crucial for the rule of law.
  • •The lawsuit requests the court to expedite the case to prevent the ECC from certifying election results before a ruling.

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Key Quotes

Akrawat Pongthanachalitkul
"When the ballot is scanned, the code connects directly to the stub with the voter's signature, revealing, 'Which voter cast a ballot for which candidate or party.'"
เมื่อนำบัตรเลือกตั้งไปสแกนโค้ดดังกล่าว จะเชื่อมโยงข้อมูลกลับไปยังต้นขั้วสมุดฉีกที่มีลายมือชื่อของผู้ใช้สิทธิได้ทันที ทำให้ทราบได้ว่า “ผู้ใช้สิทธิคนใด เป็นผู้ลงคะแนนให้ผู้สมัครหรือพรรคการเมืองใด”
Akrawat Pongthanachalitkul
"Printing such symbols is considered making additional marks that render the ballot a 'spoiled ballot.'"
การพิมพ์สัญลักษณ์ดังกล่าว ถือเป็นการทำเครื่องหมายอื่นใดเพิ่มเติมที่ทำให้บัตรเลือกตั้งกลายเป็น “บัตรเสีย”
Tawee Sodasong
"Anyone who makes the election not secret is severely undermining the monarchy and the rule of law."
ผู้ใดทำให้การเลือกตั้งไม่ลับ ถือเป็นการเซาะกร่อนบ่อนทำลายให้ระบอบประชาธิปไตยอันมีพระมหากษัตริย์เป็นประมุขและหลักนิติธรรมรุนแรงที่สุด
Tawee Sodasong
"I support citizens' legal right to scrutinize state power, as oversight is the heart of the rule of law."
ผมขอสนับสนุนการใช้สิทธิตามกฎหมายของประชาชนในการตรวจสอบการใช้อำนาจรัฐ เพราะการตรวจสอบคือหัวใจของหลักนิติธรรม

Key Entities

Person

Reserve Senator(สว.สำรอง)
A reserve senator who initiated a lawsuit against the Election Commission over alleged ballot irregularities.
Tawee Sodasong(ทวี สอดส่อง)
Leader of the Prachachat Party who voiced support for citizens suing over electoral issues and criticized the barcode printing.
Akrawat Pongthanachalitkul(นายอัครวัฒน์ พงศ์ธนาชลิตกุล)
The reserve senator who filed the lawsuit against the Election Commission at the Supreme Administrative Court.
Secretary-General of the Election Commission(เลขาธิการกกต.)
The Secretary-General of the Election Commission, named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Place

Supreme Administrative Court(ศาลปค.สูงสุด)
The judicial body where the lawsuit concerning ballot irregularities was filed.

Organization

Election Commission of Thailand (ECC)(กกต.)ℹ️
The electoral body accused of malfeasance for printing barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers.
Office of the Election Commission(สำนักงานกกต.)
An organizational entity within the Election Commission that is part of the lawsuit.
Prachachat Party(พรรคประชาชาติ)
Political party whose leader, Tawee Sodasong, publicly supported the lawsuit and criticized the ECC's actions.

Law

Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2017(รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พ.ศ. 2017)
The fundamental law cited in the lawsuit for allegedly being violated by the ECC's actions.
ECC Regulation on Member of Parliament Elections B.E. 2023(ระเบียบ กกต. ว่าด้วยการเลือกตั้ง สส. พ.ศ. 2023)
The regulation allegedly violated by the ECC's printing of markings on ballot papers, rendering them invalid.
Act on Election of Members of Parliament(พ.ร.ป.ว่าด้วยการเลือกตั้ง ส.ส.)
The primary legislation governing MP elections, relevant to the legal arguments presented in the lawsuit.