Bangkok: Sonthiya Sawasdee, a prominent political activist, has voiced his opposition to declaring the recent election invalid, highlighting the importance of considering the 32 million votes cast by citizens nationwide. He emphasized the significance of addressing the grievances while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. The Election Commission is currently managing complaints and offering clarifications to ensure public comprehension of the situation.
According to Thai News Agency, Sonthiya submitted a letter to the Election Commission advocating for the use of barcodes and QR codes to deter fraudulent ballots and vote-buying activities. He argued that scanning ballots to identify voters is implausible and praised the diversity of opinions as a fundamental aspect of democracy. Reflecting on past protests, he recalled that key political figures, including Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, faced legal consequences for similar actions in 2019.
Sonthiya urged the Election Commission to investigate alleged discrepancies related to the power outage during vote counting, initially reported to have occurred in Chonburi but actually happened in Pathum Thani. He emphasized the need for transparency in incidents like the discovery of tallied ballot papers in a garbage pile and called for a thorough examination of CCTV footage to uncover the truth behind such claims.
Additionally, Sonthiya raised concerns regarding media attempts to capture footage of eligible voters at Tha Khlong Municipality in Mueang Pathum Thani District, suggesting potential biases in the electoral process. He reaffirmed his impartial stance, asserting that he has received no benefits from the Election Commission and would stand to gain if the election were declared void.
Discussing the use of QR codes and barcodes, Sonthiya supports their role in verifying ballot authenticity while questioning the secrecy surrounding their application. He stressed that the entire electoral process is designed to be confidential and questioned the extent to which secrecy affects the fairness and integrity of the election.
Sonthiya highlighted the ongoing challenges of vote-buying, noting that it involves collaboration among various political entities and does not rely on technological solutions like barcodes or QR codes. He expressed skepticism about the feasibility of scanning all ballots, considering the logistical and financial implications.
He also addressed the possibility of legal scrutiny of the election's fairness by the Constitutional Court or the Administrative Court, urging petitioners and political parties to refrain from accusing independent bodies of bias. He cited a NIDA poll indicating public trust in the Election Commission and warned against undermining the credibility of judicial institutions.
Sonthiya concluded by calling for the continuation of post-election proceedings and emphasized the need for impartiality and transparency in addressing electoral disputes. He stressed the importance of respecting the voices of the 32 million voters and advocated for strict legal action in response to any substantiated allegations of electoral misconduct.