Bangkok: Srisuwan Janya, leader of the Patriotic Organization, has petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate seven Election Commissioners over their actions against six citizens.

According to Thai News Agency, Srisuwan's complaint questions whether the commissioners' decision to file charges against the citizens constitutes an intentional abuse of power or a violation of the Constitution or laws.

The controversy involves the Election Commission's (EC) authorization for a deputy secretary-general to file charges at the Crime Suppression Division under various sections of the 2017 Election Commission Act, the Criminal Code, and the Computer Crime Act. The issue arose amid public criticism of the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers, raising concerns about the secrecy of elections as required by the 2017 Constitution.

The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) faces scrutiny over the potential non-secret elections following the February 8, 2016, election, which could be invalidated pending a Constitutional Court ruling. The contention lies in the alleged non-compliance with constitutional requirements for secret ballots, which has led over 30 citizens to file a petition with the Ombudsman.

Some citizens attempted to demonstrate the non-secrecy of the ballots by photographing and videoing the codes during a re-vote in Bangkok on February 22, 2026. The EC preemptively intervened by filing a police report against these individuals, a move that has drawn accusations of power abuse.

Critics argue that the charges filed by the Election Commission may contravene sections of the Constitution that protect citizens' rights to oppose corruption and illegal activities. The Organic Act does not clearly empower the EC to take such actions against citizens, and the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the right to criticize government agencies for public interest.

The actions of the Election Commission could be seen as infringing on citizens' rights to participate in election monitoring, raising questions about adherence to good governance and ethical standards. The Patriotic Organization's appeal to the NACC aims to ensure accountability and uphold legal and ethical standards among the Election Commissioners.