Voters across the country have reportedly torn apart ballot papers for the August referendum in the mistaken belief that the dashed line on the ballot was for tearing. The line actually separated the two questions of the referendum.
On Sunday, 7 August 2016, Wichuda Mekhanuwong, Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) director in the western province of Kanchanaburi, revealed to the media that Muang Nunphakdi, an 84-year-old female voter, tore apart her ballot paper for the August referendum, reported Matichon Online.
According to Wichuda, Muang misunderstood that she had to tear the ballot paper apart and put them into two different boxes since there was a dashed line on it, but the line was actually for separating the two questions in the referendum. Wichuda also speculated that 80 per cent of voters in Kanchanaburi Province voted in this historic referendum.
Muang speaks to local officials. (source: Matichon Online)
In addition to Muang, many voters in more than 10 provinces across Thailand, including Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Sawan, Chonburi, and Yasothon, reportedly tore apart the ballot papers for similar reasons.
However, some voters intentionally tore the ballot papers up as a symbolic act against the junta regime.
The ballot paper for the 7 August referendum with a dashed line in the middle. The first question asks whether the voter wants to accept the draft charter, while the second, in summary, asks if the voter wants to allow the junta-appointed senate to jointly vote with the House of Representatives to select the PM.(source: Thai Republica)
