EC under new pressure

As accusations of vote-counting irregularities mount, the Election Commission (EC) is encountering a crisis of confidence amid fading levels of public trust.

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The problem began with an incident in Pathum Thani and continued later in Chon Buri's Constituency 1, although that turned out to be a case of misinformation and false accusations.

For the former, the observers demanded a recount after they noticed some CCTVs had been covered with black bags while vote counting was underway.

Fortunately, there was an immediate recount, and the numbers were congruent. EC staff said they had to cover the cameras to guarantee voters' privacy.

In Chon Buri's Constituency 1, some observers complained about a dubious vote count after they saw several ballot boxes had not been properly sealed and vote-counting sheets had been flung into trash cans.

As the poll officials refused to conduct a recount, a standoff occurred, and anger flared. One incensed young woman even opened a ballot box - this one had been sealed - in a bid to force a recount.