EC demonstrates flaws in proposed new voting system

[webfact]

EC demonstrates flaws in proposed new voting system

By The Nation

 

EC commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn

 

BANGOK: -- The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday gave a demonstration of a new voting system, highlighting some of the difficulties that would be faced in its implementation.

Under the new system, candidates from the same political party would run almost independently represented by different contesting numbers. The pointing out that the process could lead to a numerous difficulties and leave scope for fraud.

 

Led by EC commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, the simulation showed that the new voting system introduced under the new organic law on political parties would require 350 different sets of ballots to reflect the different details and numbers of candidates in all the 350 constituencies nationwide. 

 

Each of the ballots would bear information on the candidate’s name, candidacy number, and affiliation party as well as their symbol, he said. This could make the counting process difficult in addition to confusing the voters, Somchai added.

 

It would be especially difficult in the polling booths organised for voters signed up for advance voting. In these booths, the authorities had to prepare all the 350 different sets of ballot papers for the voters, he said.

 

Somchai suggested that the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) review the system, which had the potential to cause difficulties in the real practice unlike the previous system where all constituencies shared a single contesting number under the same party.

 

The commissioner also pointed out the fact that the ballots were different in each constituency made it impossible for the EC to allocate them from the central agency. They might need to be printed in different printing houses, leaving open the possibility of electoral fraud, he said. 

 

Somchai also expressed concern over the new voting method in which the voters would only cross on one ballot while determining both the constituency candidate and the party. 

 

He cautioned that the new EC must be careful about this otherwise the election could be called off and the commissioners may have to pay compensation.

 

Somchai said that if the CDC insisted, the EC could make the election possible despite the difficulties.

 

No key figures from the reform panels, the National Legislative Assembly, or the CDC were present during the simulation although the agency had invited them.

 

CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan on Wednesday said he was not sure whether the simulation had been conducted properly, considering the organic law had not come into effect yet.

 

However, the EC could submit any recommendations regarding the issues for the CDC to consider, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30324752

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-24

[JAG]

This is indeed a major problem.

Seperate ballot papers for each constituency - almost insurmountable. I can't imagine them trying that anywhere else in he world, can you?

 

Perhaps we should err on the safe side and delay the whole thing indefinitely.

 

In fact why not use an easier more direct form of democracy, like, well, why not just ask Suthep? He speaks for the people doesn't he?

 

 

[edwinchester]

I sense the beginnings of further delay.

[laocowboy2]

4 hours ago, edwinchester said:

I sense the beginnings of further delay.

I have a cunning plan - print the ballot papers in English only. This would handily disenfranchise a lot of (red?) voters while at long last providing an incentive for rural Thais to learn some English. Almost as good as a Baldrick plan eh?

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Plenty of time to fix this as there will be no election in 2018. An untimely death around July next year, will send the nation into a further 12 months mourning. This will bring us to 2019, by which time there can be a counter coup which then mean that the constitution must be rewritten. Which then puts us to around 2021/22. Then there will be a flood which stops the election due to ballot papers being stored in an under ground store which is flood prone. This will be followed by protests which will give the military reason to declare martial law. After a few hundred people are shot in the back there will be an election held. Two years after the ekection the elected government will act in accordance with there mandate only to see thousands of whistleblowing protesters pleading with the army to launch a coup. ................ never ending farce that can only end with many tears and regrets.

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

No key figures from the reform panels, the National Legislative Assembly, or the CDC were present during the simulation although the agency had invited them.

They already know the next election will be a sham and do little to establish a viable democratic government. The autocracy will retain the real power of governance. So why feed Somchai's ego by attending the demonstration?