Thai EC members travel to Africa for May 14 election prep
The Election Commission (EC) stated that it was essential for all of its members to travel overseas during the Songkran holiday period in order to organise advance voting for the May 14 election, particularly in the three African countries where a significant number of Thai residents now live.
Following his return from visits to South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco, EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong defended the decision, allaying concerns that it involved the unnecessary use of taxpayers’ money. He emphasised that all ballots collected abroad will be transferred to Thailand as planned by May 9, adding that the EC has been working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to oversee their transfer.
The Thai embassies in these three African countries are among seven located in Africa, serving 57 countries across the continent where many Thai citizens reside.
Ittiporn expressed reservations about using postal services to transport the votes due to the varied transportation systems in each nation but remained confident that everything would be resolved satisfactorily.
In terms of ballot transfers, around 13 countries worldwide require diplomatic officials to handle the ballots themselves, as no direct flights are present between them and Thailand, such as South Africa and several countries in Latin America.
Ittiporn reassured the press that the EC continued to execute its duties whilst abroad. Furthermore, he stated that the budget for the trip had been authorised by the House.
EC chairman’s announcement comes amid ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to guarantee the safe transfer of ballots in advance of the May 14 election. It is hoped that the efforts of the EC members during their overseas visits will ensure a smooth and efficient voting process for Thai citizens residing in various African nations.
