Phayao: The Election Commission is strictly enforcing re-voting regulations at polling station 6 in district 1 of Phayao, emphasizing severe penalties.
According to Thai News Agency, the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has announced a re-vote for the constituency and party-list parliamentary elections at polling station 6, situated in Village 4 at the Ban Sala School cafeteria, Tha Wang Thong Subdistrict, Mueang Phayao District, Phayao Province, Constituency 1. This re-vote is scheduled for Sunday, March 1, 2026, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and is necessitated by a discrepancy between the number of voters and the number of ballots cast.
The ECT has implemented stringent voting measures across six districts in Phayao province, prohibiting obstruction and intimidation of voters. Additionally, voters are forbidden from photographing or showing their completed ballots to others. Any violations will incur severe penalties. The ECT's announcement highlighted specific prohibitions in the parliamentary elections, including a ban on campaigning and on candidates or individuals attempting to influence voters by promising benefits or through coercion, threats, or false statements. The sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages must also adhere to Section 73 of the law.
Moreover, the publicized prohibitions and penalties emphasize that no one is permitted to resist or obstruct election officials. Election officials are deemed public officials under the Criminal Code, and violations carry penalties under Section 138 of the 2018 Act on the Election of Members of Parliament, including imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to 20,000 baht, or both. If force or threats are involved, the penalties increase to imprisonment of up to two years or fines up to 40,000 baht, or both.
Voters are also restricted from using any devices to photograph their marked ballots or from sharing their voting choices with others. Violators face imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to 20,000 baht, or both. Additionally, voters must use only the ballots provided by officials and are prohibited from removing ballots from the polling station or marking any identifying signs on them. Violations in these areas result in imprisonment of 1-5 years, fines of 20,000-100,000 baht, or both, along with a court order revoking voting rights for 10 years.
Furthermore, individuals who intentionally damage or destroy a ballot, render it invalid, or alter an invalid ballot to make it valid are subject to imprisonment for up to 5 years and a fine of up to 100,000 baht. The court shall also order the revocation of their voting rights for 10 years.