Bangkok: The Constitutional Court has dismissed a petition that accused the Election Commission of infringing on voter secrecy and rights by printing barcodes on ballot papers. The court determined the petitioner was not directly impacted by the alleged violation of rights.
According to Thai News Agency, the court unanimously decided not to accept the petition submitted by Ms. Natthida Nikrothangkoon. The petition sought a ruling under Section 213 of the Constitution, arguing that the Election Commission's decision to include barcodes on ballot papers for proportional representation in the House of Representatives election did not align with the intended budget allocation, which specified the use of QR codes. The petition further claimed that this decision compromised election secrecy and violated voting rights as prescribed by Sections 3, 25, and 41 (3) of the Constitution.
The court's deliberation revealed that the petition and its supporting documents failed to demonstrate how the petitioner's rights or freedoms were directly violated or how she experienced any distress or damage due to the actions of the Election Commission and its office. The court noted that the petition largely reflected the petitioner's opinions and lacked substantial evidence to support claims that the election was not conducted secretly or in accordance with the principles outlined in the Organic Act. In line with the Constitutional Court Procedure Act of 2018, Section 46, the court concluded that the petition did not meet the criteria for consideration under Section 213 of the Constitution.