Bangkok: "Saeng" has confirmed that the election process in Thailand remains confidential and secure, as per the principles laid out by the Election Commission of Thailand. He reassured the public that the ballots distributed are blank and that the verification process is designed to maintain the secrecy and integrity of the elections.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Saeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT), addressed concerns regarding the use of barcodes on ballot papers. He emphasized that the principles of direct and secret voting are fundamental human rights as supported by the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This declaration mandates that elections should be conducted directly and in secret, ensuring that no one knows how an individual has voted.
Furthermore, Mr. Saeng highlighted the importance of the security of the ballots and the election process, which also stems from the UDHR. These security measures are essential to prevent election malpractice, such as ballot forgery and the use of counterfeit ballots. He outlined that barcodes are part of these measures, ensuring that the principles of security and secret voting are upheld without interfering with each other.
He explained that the barcodes serve the dual purpose of securing ballot papers and the election process itself. However, the security measures must not compromise the secrecy of voting. The election process is designed to integrate both principles seamlessly, from voter identification to ballot storage, ensuring a transparent election. Measures such as separate storage of ballots and voter lists in secure locations, and different personnel handling different stages of the process, are in place to prevent any breach of election security.
Mr. Saeng also addressed concerns that barcodes could potentially allow election observers to trace ballots back to voters, which could undermine the election's fairness. However, he clarified that this information is not definitive, and only in cases of alleged election fraud would ballot boxes be opened under court order.
The Secretary-General reassured that all officials, including those from the Voter Registration Office, adhere to these principles. He acknowledged concerns about the potential for misuse but emphasized that only designated officials handle ballots before they are distributed to voters. Any misconduct by officials will be addressed separately from the election process to maintain its integrity.
In conclusion, Mr. Saeng affirmed that while barcodes help identify the source of ballots, measures are in place to ensure that the election process remains fair and honest. The Election Commission is committed to addressing any actions that may compromise the election's integrity, with ongoing investigations into two such cases.