Bangkok: The Election Commission (EC) has outlined the current status of its efforts in addressing the objections related to the selection of senators, highlighting that 13 cases have been submitted to the court, 10 criminal cases have been initiated, and 60 cases are awaiting a decision from the Commission. This update is part of the EC’s ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
According to Thai News Agency, the EC released a detailed report on the progress of handling petitions concerning objections to Senate elections, provincial administrative organization elections, and municipal elections, with the data reflecting the status as of June 9, 2015. Out of the 591 total cases, 436 have been resolved. This includes 256 petitions that were reviewed, 124 cases that were not accepted, 130 cases that were dismissed, two cases that required a vote recount, and 180 cases where verdicts were reached, resulting in 155 dismissals, two suspensions, the initiation of 10 criminal cases, and 13 petitions being taken to court.
The remaining 155 cases are under investigation, with 11 currently being scrutinized. The EC Office has advised against accepting inspection and investigation reports for four cases. Furthermore, the EC Office has prepared opinions for 39 cases and submitted 41 cases to a Sub-committee for adjudication. There are 60 cases slated for inclusion in the upcoming EC meeting agenda.
The process involves several steps, starting with the Investigation and Inquiry Committee, which conducts initial investigations and prepares recommendations for the provincial election director. Completed cases are sent to the central EC office for further examination by investigation officers. The Sub-committee for adjudicating disputes then provides its recommendations before the EC makes a final decision.
The EC aims to expedite the decision-making process to ensure the integrity of the electoral system. The progress reported reflects the Commission’s ongoing efforts to address electoral disputes in a timely and systematic manner.