Elderly voters inadvertently tear ballot papers, violating Thai election law

[webfact]

 

by Mitch Connor

 

Instances of individuals tearing up ballot papers were reported in various provinces across Thailand. Most of those involved were elderly individuals who suffer from health conditions, and they maintained that they had no intention of damaging the papers.

 

The Royal Thai Police revealed that the police’s election coordination centre had received around 20 reports of voters tearing up their ballot papers throughout the country. In Hat Yai, in Songkhla province, a 76 year old retiree tore a green ballot paper, representing the party-list system, in half as she did not see the purple one and believed only one ballot was necessary. Officials discovered the incident when the woman, who claimed to have eyesight issues, presented the two pieces to the officers and asked what she should do next. The woman was handed over to the police and now potentially faces charges of violating election law.

In the Thalang district of Phuket, a 77 year old man ripped his marked ballot papers, believing it was the correct procedure. His family informed the police that the man was undergoing treatment for an ischemic stroke and had experienced some memory loss. Initially charged with damaging the ballot, the man’s family were told to provide medical evidence of the illness.

 

In Udon Thani province, two ballot paper tearing incidents were reported. The first case involved an 84 year old man with Alzheimer’s disease, who made a tear in the ballot paper for the party-list system at a polling station in Nong Wua So district. He informed election officials that he believed he had misplaced the purple ballot, so he tore the green ballot paper into two pieces to have two separate ballots to place in the two ballot boxes.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/elderly-voters-inadvertently-tear-ballot-papers-violating-thai-election-law

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-15

 

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[pegman]

How ridiculous. Arrest these people but let the military brass who stole democracy from the Thai people get away with treason scot free.

[dinsdale]

Pretty much a non story this one. Not exactly the biggest news in this election. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

in Songkhla province, a 76 year old retiree tore a green ballot paper, representing the party-list system, in half as she did not see the purple one and believed only one ballot was necessary. Officials discovered the incident when the woman, who claimed to have eyesight issues, presented the two pieces to the officers and asked what she should do next. The woman was handed over to the police and now potentially faces charges of violating election law.

How compassionate.

[KannikaP]

Should these people really be voting?

[billd766]

21 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Should these people really be voting?

Yes they should.

 

They should also be assisted and helped if they have a problem and NOT threatened with punishment.

 

It is called common sense which is sadly lacking under the current government.