THAILAND: Election Commission invites media to tour ballot printing houses ahead of July polls

Record ID: 791521

  • Title: THAILAND: Election Commission invites media to tour ballot printing houses ahead of July polls
  • Date: 2nd June 2011
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 31, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR PRINTING FACTORY PRINTING MACHINES VARIOUS OF WORKERS CHECKING BALLOT PAPERS CAMERA CREWS FILMING FROM OUTSIDE THE ROOM MORE OF WORKERS CHECKING BALLOTS CAMERA FILMING THROUGH GLASS DOOR ELECTION COMMISSIONER PRAPHAN NAIKOWIT AND ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICIALS WALKING ON CORRIDOR PRAPHAN STANDING OUTSIDE BALLOTS STORAGE ROOM VARIOUS OF WORKERS WITH CARTON BOXES OF BALLOTS (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) ELECTION COMMISSIONER, PRAPHAN NAIKOWIT SAYING: "If this election is not accepted because of accusations of malpractice, question about its transparency or that it's not abiding the election law, then the people will not accept it, and it will be more difficult to solve the problems that we have in the country." ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICIAL IN MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF POLITICAL PARTIES 12 .VARIOUS OF PARTIES' REPRESENTATIVES PHEU THAI PARTY'S REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKING ABOUT CONCERN THAT THE EC PRODUCE EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF BALLOTS MORE OF THE MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) ELECTION COMMISSIONER, PRAPHAN NAIKOWIT SAYING: "We invited all the parties to send their representatives to monitor in every ballot station to see the numbers of ballots and voters on site. That will be the easiest way to monitor." BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 28, 2011) (REUTERS) PHEU THAI PARTY'S SUPPORTERS CLAPPING AND CHEERING AT A RALLY IN BANGKOK VARIOUS OF PHEU THAI'S TOP PARTY LIST CANDIDATES ON STAGE/ YINGLUCK SHINNAWATRA ADDRESSING RALLY VARIOUS OF PHEU THAI CANDIDATES POINTING THEIR FINGERS TO GESTURE NUMBER ONE, THE NUMBER OF THEIR PARTY IN THE BALLOT MORE OF SUPPORTERS CHEERING
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand, Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Communications,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA21LK69Y1BLV8Z3SVO34536N89
  • Story Text: Thailand's Election Commission opened two printing houses to the media on Tuesday (May 31) as the July general election draws near with some fearing the production of extra ballots could lead to abuse.
    Election Commission has printed 53.5 million sets of ballots even though only 47.3 million eligible voters are expected. This leaves a 6.2 million ballot excess.
    Promphong Nopparit, spokesman of Puea Thai party voiced his concern that according to election law, the Election commission can print 7 percent or around 3.3 million extra ballots but thinks this amount of extra ballots could be a breach to security and lead to misconduct.
    Election Commissioner, Praphan Naikowit opened the printing houses to party representatives and the media on Tuesday in an attempt to build confidence.
    "If this election is not accepted because of accusations of malpractice, question about its transparency or that it's not abiding the election law, then the people will not accept it, and it will be more difficult to solve the problems that we have in the country," Praphan said.
    The election commission has explained the extra 6-million ballots will be kept as spare as they are unsure of how many eligible voters there are.
    "We invited all the parties to send their representatives to monitor in every ballot station to see the numbers of ballots and voters on site. That will be easiest way to monitor," Praphan added.
    The election is expected to be a close race between Puea Thai and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's ruling Democrat Party.
    Members of the Puea Thai Party opted for Yingluck, the 43-year-old president of SC Assets corporation, to spearhead and reenergize its campaign and return power to allies of Thaksin.
    Analysts and commentators are split on whether the decision to run with the politically inexperienced Yingluck will benefit Puea Thai, or backfire.
    A survey conducted by the Suan Dusit University on Sunday (May 22) showed 41 percent of those polled back Yingluck's Puea Thai party, with the ruling Democrats at nearly 37 percent.
    A Bangkok Poll on Tuesday (May 24) showed 25.8 percent of the polled residents in the capital backed Puea Thai, with only 14.7 percent for the Democrats in their traditional stronghold. Half of those polled were undecided.
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