What Is a Ballot Discrepancy? Everything You Need to Know About Early Voting and How to Check Transparency

Clearing up doubts: What is a ballot discrepancy? Why did it occur frequently in the 2023 early voting? A summary of causes from the Election Commission (EC), comparing views from iLaw, along with ways the public can help prevent ballot discrepancies in your district.

The term “ballot discrepancy” has become a political buzzword heard repeatedly during elections, especially in the 2023 early voting, which sparked daily heated discussions on social media. Many wonder if this is just a technical error or a dangerous sign pointing to a lack of transparency. Today, Thairath Online will decode this issue in simple language to help readers understand and learn how to prevent their votes from "disappearing" in the ballot box.

What is a ballot discrepancy, and why is it a hot topic at every polling station?

Simply put, a ballot discrepancy is a situation where the number of voters who cast their ballots does not match the number of ballots counted. For example, if 100 people signed in to receive ballots, but when counting, only 98 ballots are found (2 missing), or worse, 102 ballots are counted (2 extra).

According to the definition given bya former Election Commission official explained to Thairath Online,this "mismatch" is a serious problem because, in principle,the Election Commission (EC)requires these two numbers to match perfectly 100% to confirm fairness and integrity.

Causes of “ballot discrepancies” from the perspectives of the EC vs. iLaw

Based on collected information and facts, there are two main explanations for the causes:

1. Technical errors: The EC usually explains that most ballot discrepancies stem from mistakes by polling staff (polling station officials), such asthe ECpointing out errors like

• marking voters’ names in the wrong column,
• voters signing in but taking ballots home without casting them into the box,
• or counting errors caused by staff fatigue.

2. Signs of non-transparency: Meanwhile, watchdogs likeiLawand civil society raise concerns that a large number of discrepancies could be exploited for "adding ballots" or "destroying ballots." There is also the issue of incorrect district codes written on ballot envelopes during early voting, which may cause ballots to be sent to wrong locations, resulting in discrepancies.

Lessons from the 2023 early voting and past cases

In previous elections, there were often news reports of delayed results due to "recounts" or "re-elections" in some units because of ballot discrepancies. Khun Somsak Srisutthiyakorn, a former EC official, once analyzed thateven one ballot discrepancy could affect hundreds or thousands of votes through fraud,if not managed carefully.

How to prevent ballot discrepancies: This is not just the EC’s responsibility.

We, as voters, can participate in preventing “ballot discrepancies” with simple methods such as:

• Checking before casting: Verify that the staff provides you with the correct number of ballots and that your signature is correctly recorded.
• Taking photos/recording data: Although photography inside the booth is prohibited, we can photograph the board outside the polling station that shows the number of eligible voters.
• Observing vote counting: After closing the ballot box, counting must be done openly. Citizens can observe and note the number of voters compared to the results immediately.
• Reporting tips: If irregularities are found, such as fewer people than ballots, promptly challenge the officials and record evidence.

“Ballot discrepancies” might seem like a minor error or a distant issue, but in a democracy, every vote represents the people's hope. If the EC can make the verification process quick and transparent, it will reduce allegations of fraud and help Thai elections meet international standards authentically.