During June 2024, a new set of senators (Senators) will begin to be chosen. In this set of senators, there will be different monitoring of vote counting and protests. From the election of MPs because the origin of this set of senators was not directly elected by the people. Therefore, the general public who is not a Senate candidate will not be able to participate in the vote counting process and directly protest the results.
In this Senate election, a system of “self-selection” will be used among the candidates. Selection is divided at the district-province-country level, and at every level, the only people who can observe the counting of votes and protest the results of the counting are “candidates”.
For counting votes and protesting the results according to Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators, B.E. 2018 (P.S.W. Act) and Election Commission regulations Concerning the selection of senators, B.E. 2024 (The Election Commission’s regulations for selecting senators) already specify the method for counting votes and protesting the results. All candidates are considered representatives of the Thai people in observing whether the 2024 Senate election this time will be clean and fair or not. What will the voting and protest results be like? Let’s take a look as follows.
Score counting is the same at all levels.
According to Sections 28, 29, and 30 of the S.R.P.C., election directors at the district, province, and country levels have duties and powers to control the selection, counting of votes, and reporting the results of vote counting to be honest. and just By counting votes for every level of selection, the votes must be counted as disclosed and electronic tools may be used to count the votes. If the counting of votes is open (Section 43)
When it’s time for voting to open, Election Commission officials will show ballot boxes to eligible voters. And when it is seen that it is an empty box, the ballot box will be closed and the next voting process will begin (EC Regulations, Selection of Senators, Article 88). And when the selection process is complete, the vote counting will be carried out at the place. Selected by revealing to completeIt cannot be postponed or delayed. (Regulations of the Election Commission on the selection of senators, item 102)
The Election Commission officials at the selected locations will have their duties divided in counting the votes as follows (ECT Regulations, Selection of Senators, Section 103)
The Election Commission at all selected locations will have the following methods for counting votes:
- If it’s a cardThat’s good. Read “Good” and read the number of the candidate who received the vote as “Number .. and …” and hold up the ballot, revealing it to those in the area of the selection location.
- If it’s a good cardsome According to Section 104, read “partially good” and read the number of the candidate who received the vote as “Number ..” and hold up the ballot, exposing it to those in the area of the selection location.
- If it isInvalid card which is a ballot that has the characteristics according to Section 105 to read “defective” and holds the ballot openly for those in the selection area to see. In diagnosing which card is a invalid card To be diagnosed by The Election Commission of Thailand selects the place where the majority vote will be counted. and have at least two committee members at the place where the vote is counted be certified on the back of the ballot as “tainted” along with specifying the reason why it was damaged.
There is also a designation for cards that have characteristics in one of the numbered boxes. Votes for that number box will not be counted (EC regulations, selection of senators, item 104). That is, any card that has the characteristics “Some good” Points will not be counted for fields with the following characteristics (but points may be counted in the correct fields).
- A card with the identification number written on applicants who are not eligible to be selected.
- Cards that do not have the applicant’s ID number written in Arabic numerals
- A card with the applicant’s identification number written on it. “Applicant ID number writing field” has more than one applicant number in the same field.
- Cards that do not have the applicant’s identification number written on them “Candidate number writing box” and let the votes be counted in “Candidate ID number writing box” where votes can be counted
Cards with the following characteristics The entire ballot will be considered invalid and will not be counted as a vote (EC Regulations, Selection of Senators, Section 105).
- fake card
- A card that is not a card selected by the venue committee.
- Cards that are marked to be noticed or written on. into the ballot besides the candidate number. Unless it is a lawful action of the operator regarding the selection.
- Unmarked ballot
- Cards that cannot be known which candidate they voted for
- Cards that vote for people who are not eligible to be elected
- Cards with more than the specified number of applicant identification numbers written on them
- Cards that cast more than one vote for any person
- A card with characteristics according to Section 104 which votes for only one candidate.
However, in selecting in the same group And within the selection of other groups in the same line, the Election Commission’s regulations for selecting Senators, Article 126, require the use of the same vote counting method. Unless there is a case in which in the process of selecting another group in the same line, ballots from the wrong group are mixed up in the ballot box. The Election Commission at the chosen location must combine the ballots with the ballots in the correct ballot box. And there must be at least two people eligible to choose to sign this card transfer (Article 127).
In the event that there is a riot, flood, fire, force majeure event or any other necessary event that prevents the counting of votes (EC Regulations, Selection of Senators, Article 117) or if some of the votes have already been counted but a force majeure event occurs while they are still If the counting of votes is not completed (Section 118), an announcement will be made to cancel the counting of votes. and recount the votes within three days (Article 119)
When the vote counting is complete, the Election Commission at the selected group’s location will check the accuracy of the vote counting. By counting the number of cards to see if they match the number of voters who have come to present themselves or not. If correct, place the ballots in a container and sort them according to good and bad cards. But if the ballot does not match the number of voters who have presented themselves, it must be recorded and notified to the District-Provincial Election Director as soon as possible (EC Regulations on Selection of Senators, Section 108) and if it is necessary that The votes must be recounted. The Election Commission must consider ordering the recount within two days from the time the report is received (Article 155). The recount must be completed not less than three days before the election at the provincial level. or not less than five days before the national election day or within five days Since the national selection
or if it is necessary to choose again The Election Commission must consider ordering a new selection within two days from the time the report is received (EC Regulations on Selection of Senators, Article 159), and ECT officials at the district, province, and country levels will continue to conduct the new selection. Except in cases where it is deemed appropriate to change for political neutrality. Honesty, appropriateness, and necessity and the announcement specifying the selection place announced at the time of that election shall be used as the new selection place. or the selection director may announce the designation of a new selection location as appropriate (Section 160). However, the new selection must be completed not less than 3 days before the provincial selection or not less than 3 days before the selection at the national level. 5 days (item 161)
If you notice something wrong or see something suspicious, you can protest.
During the counting of votes If the electors of any group consider that the counting of votes of that group is incorrect Make a protest and have the Election Commission at the chosen location record the protest (Section 107). At least two electors and the Election Commission at the chosen location must sign the evidence in the presence of not less than two witnesses. along with recording orders or decisions in the incident report at the selected location Report to the district-province level selection director as soon as possible.
This is before announcing the selection results. If there is reason to suspect that the selection is dishonest or fair The Election Commission has the power to suspend, withhold, amend, change, or cancel selections and order new selections. or a new vote can be counted (Section 59 of the Act). In the event that the applicant sees that the Election Commission officials are performing their duties unlawfully. Applicants can file a protest petition with the Supreme Court within three days from the date the Election Commission official issues the order (Section 44 of the Act).
There are also penalties for Election Commission officials who intentionally count ballots or count votes incorrectly or total the votes incorrectly. or act in an unlawful manner Have the ballot be damaged or damaged or render it invalid. or turn a invalid card into a usable card or reading the ballot incorrectly or make an inaccurate selection report Must be punished with imprisonment from one year to ten years. or a fine from twenty thousand baht to two hundred thousand baht or both imprisonment and a fine and the court ordering the revocation of the person’s voting rights for a period of 20 years (Section 84 of the Act).
How do you object to the results?
In the case that the applicant Whether at the district, province or country level, it is seen that the selection of senators in their own round was not done in good faith. not fair and does not comply with the law An objection request can be submitted to the Election Commission within three days from the date of selection at that level. If the Election Commission is of the opinion that the selection was made in good faith, the request will be dismissed. But if it is seen that the selection is in accordance with the applicant’s request, the Election Commission has the power and duty to suspend, withhold, amend, change, or cancel the selection and make a new selection. or counting new votes must continue and the decision of the Election Commission is considered final (Section 64 of the Election Commission Act).
2024-03-12 09:20:57
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