Thailand’s Constitutional Court is due to rule Monday on whether barcodes and QR codes on ballots compromised secrecy in the February 8 election, in which nearly 38 million people voted; a finding that secrecy was breached could annul part or all of the result.
The ombudsman’s petition argued the ballot codes could reveal which candidate and party a voter chose. The Election Commission says the codes were for security and that identifying a voter would require access to ballot stubs stored separately.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party won decisively and formed a coalition with more than 290 of parliament’s 500 seats. Law lecturer Prinya Thaewanarumitkul said dismissal of the petition was the likeliest outcome and a nationwide rerun was unlikely. Political science lecturer Wanwichit Boonprong said the government could remain in office but face mounting pressure over public trust. Bhumjaithai denies allegations of corruption and involvement in rigging a Senate selection process. The court annulled general elections in 2006 and 2014.
