Chonburi poll staff at fault over missing voter signatures

2026-02-08 - 08:56

CHONBURI — 8 February 2026, Confusion erupted again at a polling station in Chonburi after election officials allegedly failed to require voters to sign the electoral roll during a referendum, raising fears that ballots could be declared invalid. The Facebook page iLaw reported that many voters complained that officials at polling stations did not check identity cards, saying voters only needed to state their number to receive ballot papers. Officials also did not require voters to sign the register before being issued ballots. One complaint concerned Chonburi Constituency 1, Polling Station 3. The complainant said that after marking two ballots in the booth, they proceeded to collect a referendum ballot and noticed that officials did not allow voters to sign the list of eligible voters, asking them only to sign for receipt of the ballot. The complainant observed that “the entire booklet was blank, with no signatures at all”. They questioned officials, asking why signatures were not required, noting that not signing could mean the voter was not formally recorded as having exercised their right. The complainant then asked that the head of the polling station be consulted. The response was that voters “must sign”. At nearly 10:00, many people had already voted before the complainant, and the ballot box was full. The complainant questioned whether the ballots cast earlier still carried legal validity. The head of the polling station said a report would be filed noting that officials had not required signatures. However, concerns remained over whether voters who did not sign earlier were legally considered to have exercised their voting rights, and who would be held responsible if ballots were ultimately ruled invalid.