Long ballots a logistical headache

Ballot papers featuring the names and logos of all the political parties are expected to be about 60 centimetres long, according to Nat Laoseesawakul, deputy secretary-general of the Election Commission (EC).

That is based on the EC’s calculation that there will be no more than 60 candidates per constituency, he said.

If this format is chosen for the upcoming general election, each of the 350 constituencies will have its own ballot paper and about 53-55 million ballot papers will be needed, he said.

According to Mr Nat, the EC’s office has held talks with standard printing houses and they have given assurances enough ballot papers will be completed in time.

He said transporting them should not be a problem and vowed they would not end up in the wrong constituencies because the trucks used will be equipped with a tracking system.

“If this format is used, the ballot paper will be about two feet [60cm] long,” Mr Nat said.

He said two formats would be proposed to the EC for consideration. The other one contains only the number of candidates.

The EC’s deputy secretary-general said a royal decree announcing the election would have to be published by Jan 4 for the poll to be held on the proposed date of Feb 24. The royal decree is tentatively expected on Jan 2.

He said if that deadline is met, the EC will announce the poll date and candidacy registration period by Jan 4.

Under the charter, the government is obliged to submit for royal endorsement a draft decree calling the general election, after which the EC will announce the poll date in the Royal Gazette.

Earlier, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) clarified that the EC is authorised to set the poll date under the current charter, as opposed to the previous constitution where the government was free to decide when the election should take place.

The EC’s lack of authority to fix the poll date in the past was thought by some critics to have contributed in part to the Feb 2, 2014 election fiasco when the government was accused of not heeding the EC’s warning about the importance of determining a fixed date.

Meanwhile, the National Council for Peace and Order lifted its prohibition on political gatherings and support for political activities yesterday.

APICHIT JINAKUL All seven Election Commission (EC) members pose for a group photo following a ceremony to accept a royal command appointing Lertviroj Kowattana and Thitichet Nutchanat to the poll agency at the EC Office on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok yesterday.