Srisuwan urged the Pathum Thani Election Commission to take legal action against numerous popular pages for spreading fake news stirring up vote counting controversies in Pathum Thani District 7, revealing that students participating in the vote counting is against the law.
On 12 Feb 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Pathum Thani Election Commission office, Srisuwan Janya, leader of the Rak Chat Rak Phandin organization, submitted a complaint to the Pathum Thani Election Commission to take action against admins of many popular pages who spread false information about students from a prominent institute in Khlong Hok, Pathum Thani, conducting a recount for District 7. This act violates the 2018 and 2023 Election Acts and constitutes inputting false data into computer systems, violating the 2017 Computer Crime Act.
This follows tensions arising after the polling station closed at a well-known university in Khlong Hok, Pathum Thani, when many students and citizens protested the Pathum Thani Election Commission's work, alleging suspicious behavior in counting advance votes and referendum ballots. The student group tried to observe the count but was denied entry to the auditorium, causing strong dissatisfaction. Rumors spread that black cloths were placed over all CCTV cameras inside the auditorium used for vote counting to conceal results, until the students eventually were allowed to conduct a recount.
However, many page admins and influencers fabricated and posted false news on social media, widely sharing claims that the recount showed a candidate from a major party leading by over 20,000 votes, while in reality the recount difference was only 2 to 3 votes. This shows these admins are part of a campaign to discredit the Election Commission or the election process as corrupt, aiming to help the 'losing' party incite protests and demands for recounts across provinces nationwide.
These admins’ actions constitute conduct benefiting specific candidates or parties that could undermine election integrity, violating the Election Acts and the 2017 Computer Crime Act (amended). Offenders may face up to five years imprisonment, fines up to 100,000 baht, or both.
Therefore, the Rak Chat Rak Phandin organization presented evidence in the complaint to the Pathum Thani Election Commission, which as officials under the Criminal Code, must investigate and prosecute the page admins and influencers who spread fake news and manipulated situations to benefit a major political party, in accordance with the law, Srisuwan said.
Another key point concerns the recount process itself. After polls close, only the assigned Election Committee members at each polling unit have the authority to open ballot boxes and count votes. After counting, they must complete official forms prescribed by the Election Commission and send the boxes to designated central counting centers.
However, during protests at District 7 polling stations, students and citizens were allowed to join in opening boxes and recounting votes, which is illegal. Only the seven members of the Central Election Commission have authority to authorize a recount. Allowing students to participate, even if the recount results did not differ, constitutes misconduct under the 2018 Election Act as amended in 2023.
Mrs. Sanga Thatong, director of the Pathum Thani Election Commission, has received the complaint and said she will gather the evidence provided by the complainant along with other collected materials to prepare legal action against those involved.