Drunks, elderly tear up ballot cards 'by accident'

Drunks, elderly tear up ballot cards 'by accident'

Around 28 voters, mostly elders, drunk individuals, or those with mental issues, tore up ballot papers by accident yesterday, according to information filed by the Election Commission (EC).

The penalty for damaging ballot papers intentionally is up to five years in jail and/or a fine up to 100,000 baht. Wrongdoers will also have his or her right to vote rescinded for 10 years.

While the atmosphere at polling stations was buzzing nationwide yesterday, there were reports of spoiled ballot papers.

Among those who tore up the ballot paper was Moon Chuedang, 79, who tore his ballot card in half while voting at polling station 3 at Ban Moo 3 in tambon Don Kaew at Saraphi district in Chiang Mai province.

Mr Moon explained to the police that he saw a perforated mark on the paper so he thought that he could take half the ballot home as a souvenir. Relatives told police that he had been involved in a car accident recently and that he might have a mental problem.

Sompote Wongchit, 72, tore up the ballot paper without marking a vote at polling station 2 at tambon Pak Jan at Nakhon Luang district in Ayutthaya province. He also told police that he thought could keep half of the ballot. An investigation found that Mr Sompote has been a patient at a state mental hospital.

Korakote Tarmnasard, 41, a villager at tambon Ban Klang in Muang Lamphun district in Lamphun province admitted he had been drinking the night before voting and was still suffering from a hangover as he cast his ballot at polling booth 3 at Wat Khi Lek temple. "I could not see the name of [my] candidate. So I got upset and tore up the ballot," he said.

Similar offences were repeated at polling booth 9 in tambon Bang Ksawn in Muang district of Samut Songkhram where Nukool Soonting tore up the ballot accidentally. "I did not mean to do it but my hands were shaking violently," Mr Nokool was quoted as telling police. He admitted he had been drinking alcohol since 5pm on Saturday until the wee hours of election day. Alcohol sales were banned since 6pm on Saturday until 6pm yesterday. As a result, some people had stockpiled alcohol for their own consumption.

Meanwhile, actor Tony Rakkaen took a picture of his ballot card as he cast his vote and posted it on his Instagram writing "Our Important Day". He deleted his post one hour later after learning that posting an image of the ballot card could earn him up one year in jail and/or a fine up to 20,000 baht.

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