"Sudarat" declares, "What is the Election Commission for?"

Today (3 Feb) at the Thai Sang Thai Party office in Don Mueang district, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, the party's prime minister candidate number 48, expressed strong disappointment with the performance of the Election Commission, questioning the necessity of the organization's existence. She asked, "What is the Election Commission for?" She cited errors in the advance voting process that should not have occurred and were basic matters that could have been managed, suggesting deliberate inefficiencies. If errors were genuine, she argued, they reflected a serious lack of efficiency. She called on the Election Commission to consider resigning.

The budget for this election amounts to six billion baht, and this Election Commission is not a newcomer to the matter. Yet, recurring problems have emerged from public complaints and information on social media. For example, voters who had properly registered in advance, with clear documentation, were found to have their names not in the system at polling stations, having to wait for hours without the issue being resolved. Another example is the incorrect identification of the polling district on the ballot envelope, contradicting the actual household registration data.

This is an unforgivable flaw, as the errors in advance voting, where voter turnout was significantly lower than on election day, raise concerns about increased chaos on election day and a potential recurrence of past incidents such as ballot stuffing or ballots multiplying in the ballot box, which undermine the democratic process. If the Election Commission continues to allow these errors to recur and operate inefficiently amidst massive taxpayer money, they should face charges under Section 157 of the Criminal Code for neglecting or improperly performing their duties.