EC targets 20% cut in electoral fraud

EC targets 20% cut in electoral fraud

A new election commissioner aims to reduce electoral fraud by 20% in the general election on Feb 2.

Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, the election commissioner-elect supervising election administration, said yesterday that the new line-up of election commissioners had fewer than 50 working days to prepare for the next election and with this timeframe, the mechanisms of the Election Commission (EC) could be adjusted to reduce electoral fraud by about 20%.

Yingluck gets rolling Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra boards a train which will take her on a test-run of the recently repaired rail tracks between Chiang Mai and Lampang yesterday. TAWATCHAI KHEMGUMNERD

"I admit that with existing laws, fewer than 50 days left, old personnel in the office and about 1 million people involved in election organisation nationwide, it is impossible for my company to eradicate electoral fraud," Mr Somchai said.

"But I am confident that mechanisms can be adjusted to cut fraud by 20% and that should help improve the image of and confidence in the EC."

He suggested people participate in supervising polling stations in place of government officials, representatives of political parties guard ballot boxes, Thai people living overseas have more channels to cast their votes, electoral fraud complaints be filed through various channels, and election results be postponed where there are proven cases of fraud.

In response to an anti-government protesters' demand for election commissioners to resign to postpone the next election, Mr Somchai said the next election must go ahead because there had been a royal decree on House dissolution and the election date was set.

He said even if the caretaker prime minister resigns, preparations for the next election must continue.

The election can be postponed only if there is a coup or three out of five election commissioners go missing, he said.

But Mr Somchai said if Pheu Thai wins the election again, it must heed the mistakes it made which led to caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolving the House, and must not use any such victory to justify its contentious decisions of the recent past.

"I believe the present situation should teach the Pheu Thai Party that a parliament majority does not allow it to do anything it likes," he said.

"Any resolution must also heed outside voices. Do not disappoint people or take actions at will. I think it is a lesson. If electoral victory is considered justification for what was done, the nation will be in trouble."

Regarding calls for political reform, Mr Somchai said parties concerned could begin with the reform studies that several committees had conducted, including the Political Development Council, the Law Reform Commission of Thailand and the National Economic and Social Advisory Council.

Senate Speaker and acting Parliament President Nikhom Wairatpanich said yesterday he had proposed that the line-up of the new five-member Election Commission seek endorsement from His Majesty the King.

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