BANGKOK, Thailand – A network of student activists representing groups from nine major universities filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court on Monday, seeking to annul the Feb. 8 general election. The petitioners argue that the inclusion of barcodes and QR codes on ballots was unlawful and compromised voter anonymity.
The legal challenge was led by Teerapat Suphaphithakpaibul, coordinator of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration. The coalition includes student representatives from Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Kasetsart, Khon Kaen, KMITL, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang, Ramkhamhaeng, and Srinakharinwirot universities. They allege that the Election Commission’s (EC) use of tracking technology violates the constitutional principle of a secret ballot by potentially allowing votes to be traced back to individuals.
The lawsuit names the EC and its Secretary-General as defendants, demanding a fresh election and a permanent ban on identifying technology in future voting. Additionally, the group has requested an emergency injunction to stay the official certification of election results, citing concerns of “irreparable damage” if the process continues before a final court verdict. (TNA)
