Bangkok:The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) is considering the use of electronic voting machines as a replacement for traditional ballot papers, with an initial plan to distribute 250 machines across the country. The introduction of these machines aims to facilitate faster data processing and potentially enhance election security.
According to Thai News Agency, the move follows a Constitutional Court ruling regarding the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballots, which did not find the ECT's actions illegal but suggested a move away from using barcodes. The ECT has urged critics to cease their activities, warning of potential legal action. The current plan involves allocating two sets of machines to each province, with each set comprising a vote counting machine and four voting machines. These machines will be arranged in a row with plastic covers for privacy, and voters will confirm their selection by pressing a button next to their chosen candidate's number.
The electronic voting machines are standalone systems, lacking LAN, internet, or Bluetooth connectivity, making them secure from hacking and external data processing. However, the current stock of 250 machines is insufficient for larger elections. For parliamentary elections, 99,487 machines are needed, and approximately 1,000 machines are required for each provincial council election. Presently, these machines are used in schools, universities, private sector organizations, and even within the Parliament for various elections.
The ECT is drafting regulations for using these machines in smaller local elections as a pilot project before expanding further. The commission also plans to develop more modern machines with better security and lower costs for future large-scale elections. Additionally, these machines are expected to be used for advance voting and general elections within Thailand, with considerations for overseas voting still under review.
The use of electronic voting machines could result in significant cost savings. In the general election on February 8th, over 8.9 billion baht was allocated for managing the election and referendum, involving over a million personnel. Transitioning to electronic voting could reduce expenses related to staffing and mitigate election fraud, thus ensuring transparency and quicker result reporting.