Million-baht bounty: EC offers big cash for election snitching
Whistleblower scheme aims to curb vote-buying and shake up local political strongholds
With municipal elections looming, Thailand’s Election Commission announced it will offer cash rewards of up to 1 million baht for tip-offs leading to proof of election fraud.
The move comes amid mounting concerns over vote-buying and irregularities in the lead-up to the May 11 polls, which will see mayoral and council seats contested in 76 provinces.
The payouts are part of an official regulation under the EC’s policy on investigative expenses for gathering information on electoral misconduct.
To qualify for a reward, informants must follow specific procedures: submit evidence in person to EC investigators or authorised officials, clearly identify the accused and potential witnesses, and provide substantial, verifiable details of the alleged wrongdoing.
Rewards will be awarded based on the outcome of an EC probe or court ruling, with amounts ranging from 25,000 to 1 million baht.
The stakes are high and so is the scale. A whopping 4,558 candidates are vying for mayoral seats, with a staggering 60,521 contesting municipal council positions. The EC is aiming for a 70% voter turnout, a slight bump from the 66% seen in 2021.
The elections are being held to fill local positions vacated by officials whose terms ended on March 27. Voting will take place between 8am and 5pm on election day.
The contest is shaping up to be particularly fierce in local strongholds. The opposition People’s Party is dominating the race with candidates in 39 provinces, while the ruling Pheu Thai Party has just one mayoral hopeful, in Nakhon Chiang Mai. This limited presence has left the field wide open for powerful local political families and networks to strengthen their grip on municipal power, reported Bangkok Post.
With high political stakes and big money on the table, the EC’s million-baht whistleblower programme is already turning heads — and could turn the tide in Thailand’s most hotly contested local elections in years.
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