Mixed report on advance voting

Mixed report on advance voting
The Asian Network for Free Elections (Anfrel) Monday released its report on advance voting last weekend, with the findings from its 37 election observers across the country.

Despite the unprecedented number of voters, the Election Commission coped well with polling administration, apart from some polling centres where the secrecy of the vote was not ensured.

But limited monitoring by the EC outside polling centres meant election violations may have taken place unchecked.

In polling centres themselves, some infractions of procedures were observed.

The inside of polling booths in Chon Buri, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani were seen by those outside the centre, violating the secrecy of ballots.

And ballot boxes were not adequately sealed in one district in Nakhon Ratchasima.

"The EC should make sure such errors do not take place on election day. Between now and then they must also ensure that ballot boxes used for advance voting are stored transparently," said Anfrel coordinator Ichal Supriadi.

A senior Army officer in Chiang Rai, who asked to remain anonymous, alleged that Army units had been instructed by superiors to vote for the Chart Thai party.

In Songkhla, a voter who had been transported to the polling centre by her company said her employer asked his employees to vote for the Democrat Party.

"Cases of coerced voting - whether by the military or private companies - are difficult to prove. This highlights the need for much more attention by the EC on what happens outside polling centres, both in the next week and on election day," concluded Supriadi.

The Nation