Udon Thani man returns vote-buying cash after wife’s ultimatum

A man in Udon Thani brought 500 baht to the provincial election office to report alleged vote buying, saying his wife demanded he come clean and return the money. He said a canvasser for an MP candidate gave him the cash days before the election, and he later admitted he had already spent it. The 500 baht he returned was reportedly borrowed from his wife. Officials told him he would be treated as a witness rather than punished while they examine the allegation. The episode drew fresh attention online as locals and commentators urged anyone who took money to surrender it to avoid legal trouble.

From what I understand this is incredibly common and no surprise to anybody so there's about a 0% chance that any investigation will take place because it's business as usual.

There's no doubt that the election was paid for and that votes were bought nationwide, and my guess is if that had not taken place People Power would have won by a landslide. Anutin has no business being the PM he was absolutely the wrong choice and he's going to continue leading Thailand backwards into oblivion.

It should never be forgotten that he was the deputy PM under your Tiny Prayuth, and together they set the nation back at least two decades economically. How anybody could have voted for him in a legitimate manner boggles the mind.

Queues soon to form across the nation as people produce wads of notes to pay back ...

Government debt to disappear.

Here amongst the Khmer peasants, they think it's all great fun. They take the cash in hand then vote whatever way they were going to anyway.

I expect that's the general pattern across the whole country. Which means that the pollies - in the main - are just wasting their dough.

1 hour ago, mfd101 said:

Here amongst the Khmer peasants, they think it's all great fun. They take the cash in hand then vote whatever way they were going to anyway.

I expect that's the general pattern across the whole country. Which means that the pollies - in the main - are just wasting their dough.

"Here amongst the Khmer peasants, they think it's all great fun. They take the cash in hand then vote whatever way they were going to anyway."

Some long term members will probably recall the general Thai election when the voting booths were turned so that cameras / observers could see the rear view of the voter in the booth, and the election officials were sitting very close to the voting booths. And red shirt operatives were roaming very close by close enough to every voting booth to see how the voter marked their ballot paper and instantly told the on site red shirt party member if the voter did NOT vote for the thaksin candidate.

Further, when vote buying took place some voters said 'how can you know who I vote for'. This was met with aggression and comments 'don't worry we know and if you don't vote for the red shirt candidate 'we will tell all your neighbors'. This did frighten many, they feared being ostracisd in their community, when shopping at the local market or refused service, and concerned that their kids would be targeted at school,

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

"Here amongst the Khmer peasants, they think it's all great fun. They take the cash in hand then vote whatever way they were going to anyway."

Some long term members will probably recall the general Thai election when the voting booths were turned so that cameras / observers could see the rear view of the voter in the booth, and the election officials were sitting very close to the voting booths. And red shirt operatives were roaming very close by close enough to every voting booth to see how the voter marked their ballot paper and instantly told the on site red shirt party member if the voter did NOT vote for the thaksin candidate.

Further, when vote buying took place some voters said 'how can you know who I vote for'. This was met with aggression and comments 'don't worry we know and if you don't vote for the red shirt candidate 'we will tell all your neighbors'. This did frighten many, they feared being ostracisd in their community, when shopping at the local market or refused service, and concerned that their kids would be targeted at school,

That was the 2006 election that was annulled by the EC due to some booth placement issues at a few polling stations.

23 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

From what I understand this is incredibly common and no surprise to anybody so there's about a 0% chance that any investigation will take place because it's business as usual.

There's no doubt that the election was paid for and that votes were bought nationwide, and my guess is if that had not taken place People Power would have won by a landslide. Anutin has no business being the PM he was absolutely the wrong choice and he's going to continue leading Thailand backwards into oblivion.

It should never be forgotten that he was the deputy PM under your Tiny Prayuth, and together they set the nation back at least two decades economically. How anybody could have voted for him in a legitimate manner boggles the mind.

There is no need to understand anything.

No need to doubt anything Spidey.

Spend time in a village and you will see vote buying at every level.

Sadly, those over (say) 40 years of age follow orders.

It is what they were taught from birth.🙃🙃

He should have said he won it on a horse called Dragonfly - unless his wife's name is Sybil!

On 2/20/2026 at 2:35 PM, mfd101 said:

Here amongst the Khmer peasants, they think it's all great fun. They take the cash in hand then vote whatever way they were going to anyway.

I expect that's the general pattern across the whole country. Which means that the pollies - in the main - are just wasting their dough.

Hence, the unique barcodes on the ballots this year that can be traced to each voter.

Only 500 baht

In southern province's its 2-3000 baht so I'm told

Mind you less hands are taking a cut.

5 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

He should have said he won it on a horse called Dragonfly - unless his wife's name is Sybil!

Just don't mention the war.🙃🙃

4 hours ago, kwak250 said:

Only 500 baht

In southern province's its 2-3000 baht so I'm told

Mind you less hands are taking a cut.

We had some "influential" villagers being paid up to B5K to "influence" the elderly with B500 from a candidate.

Peoples names were openly mentioned and they were afraid to vote otherwise for fear of the family losing face.🙃🙃

39 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

We had some "influential" villagers being paid up to B5K to "influence" the elderly with B500 from a candidate.

Peoples names were openly mentioned and they were afraid to vote otherwise for fear of the family losing face.🙃🙃

Yes it's a crazy place here.

I was told they need your id card to check you vote.

Then the same people complain its been fixed.