Voter enthusiasm crashes poll website on first day

[webfact]

Voter enthusiasm crashes poll website on first day

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

First election in seven years expected to see higher-than-usual turnout; Sudarat, Chatchart confirmed as Pheu Thai’s candidates for PM
 

THE WEBSITE for early-voting registration crashed yesterday morning after a huge number of voters rushed to secure their balloting rights, leading to speculation that the upcoming election could see a high turnout.

 

The March 24 poll will be the country’s first general election in seven years.

 

The online registration opened after midnight on the website of the Department of Public Administration (DOPA). But the website went down in the morning after too many voters tried to access the site at the same time.

 

According to Election Commission (EC) deputy secretary-general Nat Laosisavakul, the crash was due to a large number of people entering the website. The failure, in particular, affected those registering for overseas voting, Nat said.

 

However, the issue was resolved soon after and yesterday, from 8.30 to 9am, at least 1,000 voters had successfully registered to vote early outside their home constituencies, he added.

 

The registration is also available offline via DOPA offices or Thai embassies until February 19, he said. But the EC has recommended online registration as the most convenient channel, he added. The deputy secretary-general said the agency expected the total number of those registering to exceed 2 million. It could be due to the new electoral system that makes every vote count, he said.

 

Under the Mixed-Member Apportionment (MMA) system, each vote goes to both the constituency candidate and the party. Even when the candidate loses, the party would still get the vote, which could be useful in gaining party-list MPs.

 

According to data provided by the EC website, in 2011 and 2007, 3 million and 2.3 million people respectively registered to vote early.

 

Early voting this year will take place from March 4 to 17 while the general election has been set for March 24.

 

Political scientists saw the crash of the website yesterday as a demonstration of voter enthusiasm and speculated that the turnout of voters might be high this year.

 

Sukhum Nualsakul, former rector of Ramkhamhaeng University, said yesterday that the enthusiasm could be due to people not being able to vote for many years.

 

“It’s been seven years since the last successful election. That’s almost two terms. People must be so frustrated,” he said. “It’s such a long time since they voted. So, they would want to express their political views through the ballot in this general election.”

 

Sukhum also said the election has been a hot topic in the last couple of years, hence people would be enthusiastic to exercise their rights.

 

Starved of elections

 

Another political scientist Attasit Pankaew, from Thammasat University, said that it was a good sign that the registration website had crashed.

 

“The website going down means that at some point, more people tried to access it than the system could take,” he said. “This is a very positive thing. The fact that they tried to register on the very first day shows that the voters are indeed very alert.”

 

The expert said that the country’s failure to hold any general election in the past years could have contributed to the enthusiasm. Regardless, this clearly reflects that voters are eager to participate in politics, Attasit said.

 

Meanwhile, political parties are humming with activity now that the election date has been announced.

 

Pheu Thai Party’s senior figure, Phumtham Wechayachai, said yesterday that the party’s members had already agreed on two PM candidates: its core leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan and popular figure Chatchart Sittipan. The party would submit three names, the most number allowed by the law, but had yet to finalise the third candidate, he said.

 

The party was also working on finalising its list of MP candidates and expected the final decision to be made this week, according to Phumtham.

 

Meanwhile, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva revealed yesterday that the party was considering a candidates list for 150 constituencies as well as the PM candidate. The names were expected to be finalised by February 1, he said.

 

The Democrat leader declined to comment on arch rival Pheu Thai’s choice of PM candidates, saying that no matter who were on the list, there would be a competition.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30363113

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-29

[Samui Bodoh]

i don't want to trash Thailand or the EC, but this is a very valid (and troubling) indicator of the future.

 

The last successful election held was 2011, or 7-8 years ago. And on the first day of registration for this one, the site crashes. On the first day. The first bloody day.

 

A few questions...

 

• What has the EC been doing all these years?
• How much money has been spent on the EC since 2011?
• How much salary has been collected by EC staff all these years?
• How many 'test runs' has the EC done on its systems?
• Why are not all EC staff hired, trained and deployed?
• Could wide-spread interest in this election have not been foreseen?
• Does the EC have the capacity to register the projected 2 million people?

 

I am certain more questions will arise, but the fact that these have already arisen is troubling...

 

To say the least.

 

Sigh...

 

 

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

i don't want to trash Thailand or the EC, but this is a very valid (and troubling) indicator of the future.

 

The last successful election held was 2011, or 7-8 years ago. And on the first day of registration for this one, the site crashes. On the first day. The first bloody day.

 

A few questions...

• What has the EC been doing all these years?
• How much money has been spent on the EC since 2011?
• How much salary has been collected by EC staff all these years?
• How many 'test runs' has the EC done on its systems?
• Why are not all EC staff hired, trained and deployed?
• Could wide-spread interest in this election have not been foreseen?
• Does the EC have the capacity to register the projected 2 million people?

 

I am certain more questions will arise, but the fact that these have already arisen is troubling...

To say the least.

Sigh...

I share your frustration.

The only way anything can be foreseen here is by the use of a fortune teller.

 

I didn't realise the website crashed on the first day for the last election too. That only tells you that learning from previous experience didn't work.

Usually here most maintenance/technical staff will only work on a corrective maintenance basis, rather than a preventative maintenance one. Even that seems to have failed in this case if it's happened for a second time in a row.

 

 

[Puchaiyank]

I'm sorry, we could not compile accurate voting numbers as our computers were overloaded and crashed...but we will reschedule another vote soon...stay tuned.

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

First election in seven years expected to see higher-than-usual turnout; Sudarat, Chatchart confirmed as Pheu Thai’s candidates for PM

first time in my life i hope the red-shirts have a smashing vistory; least of bad alternatives

[leeneeds]

No one wants to miss out on the potential money

that will be floating around, registering turn out now has done this , those that have want the vote better bring deep pockets,

 

[sammieuk1]

One thing for sure I will also have a turnout in support????

[Ossy]

I wonder why, when I read this report of the EC's serious system failure, that a term relating to a long-established feature of UK government came to mind. It was 'Disability Allowance' . . . maybe if the rest of the intelligent world could have a whip-round and give a DA to Thailand's struggling EC, that might sort it, 'cos they're clearly desperately short of something; technical nous, brains, money . . . maybe all three. I can only hope that this mess will further reflect, in millions of prospective voters' eyes, on this junta regime's utter inability to govern and result in their being shown the door.

[Thailand]

Just an expensive, frustrating time consuming run up to pre determined result.

[SABloke]

I suspect that come voting day thousands of people that thought they had registered will find out they haven't and be turned away. Seriously, I have little faith in a system that fails repeatedly to actually save all information prior tonsuch crashes. ????

[Lupatria]

I suspect general failure behind the crash.

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

I suspect general failure behind the crash.

I get your point. There's never any general shortage in the Thai army.

 

 

[yellowboat]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The failure, in particular, affected those registering for overseas voting, Nat said.

That might be the problem, as the coding for that might not be scalable to a massive influx.  Usually you have more than one server to handle heavy loads.  Computer hardware is cheap these days.  

 

Just hope they vote wisely and without fear of those in jack boots.

 

[Eric Loh]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

First election in seven years expected to see higher-than-usual turnout;

First piece of good news for democracy after 7 years of non democratic rule and suppression of freedom. People are ready to send a loud message to the junta. Hope it's enough to shut them out till the next coup.

[LucysDad]

Just now, Eric Loh said:

First piece of good news for democracy after 7 years of non democratic rule and suppression of freedom. People are ready to send a loud message to the junta. Hope it's enough to shut them out till the next coup.

 

 

 

Let's hope we don't have to wait too long for the next coup............. the incoming party is likely to screw up before too long.

[Eric Loh]

17 minutes ago, LucysDad said:

 

 

 

Let's hope we don't have to wait too long for the next coup............. the incoming party is likely to screw up before too long.

If the incoming party don't screw up; the elites can always create an incident for the military to stage a coup. Kind oi SOP for last 80+ years.  

[Hayduke]

 

We can no doubt expect many more ‘unavoidable’ brake system failures in the next couple of months. We can also expect that Junta-friendly constituencies, parties and candidates will be strangely unaffected by these unexplained electoral problems. The show is just beginning…

 

 

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

first time in my life i hope the red-shirts have a smashing vistory; least of bad alternatives

 

That's like asking who do you prefer - Stalin or Hitler!

 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if neither of the two gangs that vie for control of the trough got a victory. And some who ain't out the same mold got the chance to actually do things?

[Baerboxer]

37 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

If the incoming party don't screw up; the elites can always create an incident for the military to stage a coup. Kind oi SOP for last 80+ years.  

 

Sooner or later someone will move Thailand more towards the China, Russia camp where democracy, Human Rights, free speech etc have no relevance. All they need is the military fully on side and the lucrative dealings with the West to dry up. Then Thailand would follow just like Hun Sen is already doing in Cambodia.

 

While there is money to be made, and a hell of a lot, out of the US and EU, Thailand will play the democracy game. If not, then watch the interest switch to the nations who don't give a toss about such things. 

[Eric Loh]

54 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Sooner or later someone will move Thailand more towards the China, Russia camp where democracy, Human Rights, free speech etc have no relevance. All they need is the military fully on side and the lucrative dealings with the West to dry up. Then Thailand would follow just like Hun Sen is already doing in Cambodia.

 

While there is money to be made, and a hell of a lot, out of the US and EU, Thailand will play the democracy game. If not, then watch the interest switch to the nations who don't give a toss about such things. 

That's a very extreme view which I doubt the elites and their wealthy sponsors will subscribe. Thailand is a trading nation and depends on good relationship with all countries in particular with USA and the EU. Thailand has a long diplomatic relationship with USA since the 1833 and derived lots of military and economic benefits. Thailand relationship with PRC and Russia were relatively recent. The military treaties and economic pact like the GSP and the Treaty of Amity are strong incentives for Thailand not to pivot excessively towards the socialist countries. If Thailand was to clamp up like Cambodia which has a much different history; it will suffer immense economic downside; will be intolerable for the elites and their capitalist friends and an uneasy populace. Thailand do have a knack for staying neutral like in the 2 WW. That policy has worked and they will likely to continue. 

[HalfLight]

Another technological triumph for Thailand. Capacity estimation and management should be an integral part of any project like this but I doubt it was.

 

 

 

[HalfLight]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

If the incoming party don't screw up; the elites can always create an incident for the military to stage a coup. Kind oi SOP for last 80+ years.  

Indeed, I doubt anyone in the army will forsee the kind of problems you and I can see.

 

 

 

[DrTuner]

Oh, IT crashed, a valid reason to postpone than. How about five more years until somchai sorts the ZX48 out?

[bowerboy]

24 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Oh, IT crashed, a valid reason to postpone than. How about five more years until somchai sorts the ZX48 out?

 

Yeah probably playing Manic Miner and used up all of the 48k ram...should of got a plug in ram pack for it (or upgraded to Commodore 64).

[bowerboy]

I think a point a lot of people are missing is that only 1,000 people signed up...not sure how that equates to a server overload. Probably just pure incompetence.

 

 

[spidermike007]

Millions of us are hopeful that these absolute goons will be outvoted, even if it is by Bozo the Clown. Whoever. It barely matters at this point, as long as the incompetent, power hungry, greedy, heartless fools can be put out to pasture. I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of Thais, and nearly every ex-pat in Thailand despises the army, and Prayuth.

 

Get out. Get out now. You are not wanted, you are not needed, you are not liked. You are in the way of progress, and have done so little in the four years you have been given. You are the roadblocks, to Thailand moving forward! 

[DrTuner]

8 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Millions of us are hopeful that these absolute goons will be outvoted, even if it is by Bozo the Clown. Whoever. It barely matters at this point, as long as the incompetent, power hungry, greedy, heartless fools can be put out to pasture. I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of Thais, and nearly every ex-pat in Thailand despises the army, and Prayuth.

Yeah, although the only small ray of light seems to be the car salesman fella who's a bit more friendly toward the West. Not having high hopes.

[madmen]

Millions of us are hopeful that these absolute goons will be outvoted, even if it is by Bozo the Clown. Whoever. It barely matters at this point, as long as the incompetent, power hungry, greedy, heartless fools can be put out to pasture. I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of Thais, and nearly every ex-pat in Thailand despises the army, and Prayuth.

 

Get out. Get out now. You are not wanted, you are not needed, you are not liked. You are in the way of progress, and have done so little in the four years you have been given. You are the roadblocks, to Thailand moving forward! 

"I Think it is safe to say that the vast majority of Thais, and nearly every ex-pat in Thailand despises the army, and Prayuth."

 

Share with us how you came to this conclusion? I'm guessing the reply will be "the Thais I know"

 

My view is the complete opposite. Not a single protest from the masses that's cold hard facts and trumps the Thais I know nonsense.

 

As western nations stumble through political chaos, Thailand has had a dream run and the Thais of course know it. Thailand is it long last stable compared to the the chaos over the last 10 years

 

Expect a complete land slide IMO

 

[Eric Loh]

3 hours ago, madmen said:

"I Think it is safe to say that the vast majority of Thais, and nearly every ex-pat in Thailand despises the army, and Prayuth."

 

Share with us how you came to this conclusion? I'm guessing the reply will be "the Thais I know"

 

My view is the complete opposite. Not a single protest from the masses that's cold hard facts and trumps the Thais I know nonsense.

 

As western nations stumble through political chaos, Thailand has had a dream run and the Thais of course know it. Thailand is it long last stable compared to the the chaos over the last 10 years

 

Expect a complete land slide IMO

 

You underestimated the youth of voting age coming out to vote. Past elections, the youth between 18-24 were disinterested in politics. A survey 2010, youth of that age group that were keen to vote only represented 37.9%. Recent survey revealed almost 90% will vote in the March election. After 5 years of military rule, these young voters are calling for change. Manifested in the rap song against dictator that garnered millions of likes and social media negative expression towards the junta. Youth between 18-35 make out over a quarter of the 50 million electorate. That is a significant number that could whitewash the junta political parties.  

[metisdead]

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