Thai Election Body Debates Ballot Reprint for 3 Units

2026-02-17 - 07:56

BANGKOK — 17 February 2026, Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) held tense discussions on 17 February over the format of ballot papers to be reprinted for fresh voting at three polling units scheduled for 22 February 2026. The meeting continued deliberations from the previous day on the printing of new ballot papers, following an earlier EC resolution ordering fresh voting at three units: Polling Unit 9 in Constituency 15, Khan Na Yao district, Bangkok; Polling Unit 3 in Constituency 1, Chaiyasathan subdistrict, Mueang Nan district, Nan; and Polling Unit 4 in Constituency 6, Phon Sung subdistrict, Chai Wan district, Udon Thani. Commissioners have yet to reach a conclusion on whether the reprinted ballots will retain the same format used in the 8 February general election, including serial numbers, ballot numbers and barcodes. Without the barcode and numbering system, concerns were raised about possible legal disputes over differences between ballot papers used in the general election and those used in the fresh vote. Such discrepancies, officials fear, could complicate the EC’s defence in an ongoing legal challenge alleging that printing barcodes on ballot papers violates the constitution and could render the election void. The commission also agreed that holding a press conference, as it did during the election period, may not be in its best interest. Officials said previous briefings had been subject to interpretation and expansion in ways that harmed the agency. The EC will instead focus on issuing written statements. Meanwhile, after a petition was submitted to the Personal Data Protection Committee accusing the EC of enabling voter identification through ballot barcodes, the EC Office has formally responded with a written clarification on legal grounds. It reaffirmed that the election was conducted by direct and secret ballot inside polling booths. An inquiry from the ombudsman’s office requesting clarification within seven days is also being processed, as the letter was only recently received, officials said.