NEC: Migrants Can’t Vote

The National Election Committee (NEC) dismissed a request to help migrant workers vote in the upcoming elections, despite creating a system similar to what was requested for soldiers only seven days ago. Last week, the NEC said it would allow soldiers – who traditionally have supported the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) – to vote at the polling stations closest to their garrisons instead of in their home provinces, but refused to do the same for migrant workers – traditionally supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) – who are living abroad, specifically those working in Thailand who are trying to vote in communes along the border.
 

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said they would be unable to help the roughly one million Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand because the “NEC can’t do anything illegal.” “We examined the legal aspects, and it’s not allowed by the NEC to follow the request. The law says they can register to vote where they live, but the problem is that they live in Thailand,” he said.
 

“Although they have national ID cards, they do not fulfill enough conditions.” Mr. Puthea claimed migrant workers and soldiers were different because the armed forces “maintained security and public order” during elections.

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