Timeline Revealed: Events at Pathum Thani District 7 Voting Station Involving Black Bags Covering CCTV, Suspicions of Vote Counting Irregularities

Timeline revealed detailing events where students and citizens protested the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority at the District 7 polling station in Pathum Thani Province at Rajamangala University of Technology, Khlong Hok campus, due to suspicions of irregularities, denial of access to observe vote counting, and black bags covering CCTV cameras.

The incident involved unrest at the vote counting station in District 7, Pathum Thani Province, located in the auditorium of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. A group of citizens and students gathered to protest and demand "a recount." They noticed that election officials at the polling station obstructed their legal right to observe the counting process. The tension escalated when images circulated showing black bags covering CCTV cameras. This sparked criticism and doubts about the transparency of the process.

• The sequence of events took place at 9:00 p.m. on February 2026 at the auditorium of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Khlong Hok, in Rangsit Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province. More than 300 students and citizens protested inside the auditorium against election officials at the counting station, recording video evidence alleging a lack of transparency. They demanded a recount to ensure election transparency. Police from Thanyaburi and Khlong Ha Police Stations were present to maintain order. This station served as the central counting point for votes from within and outside the district.
  
  
• Mr. Pian Marsri, head of the Political Party Investigation and Inquiry Division at the Pathum Thani Election Commission Office, arrived to receive complaints and informed the dissatisfied students and citizens
  
  

that their actions were disrupting operations.

• Ms. Pakaranporn Klinchuanchoen, a representative of the student and citizen group, said she and friends noticed suspicious behavior blocking citizens. About six friends tried to observe the counting of advance and overseas votes but were stopped by a female official with short hair in khaki uniform, who said, "You are disturbing the work." They were then asked to leave the area. When the observers tried to ask questions and view the counting, the officials had already finished counting and sealed the ballot boxes, preventing any verification of accuracy.

Black bags covering CCTV cameras

• Additionally, CCTV cameras were turned off and covered with black cloth. Observers understood if cameras were off between 08:00 and 17:00 for privacy, but after sealing the ballot boxes and starting the count, cameras should be on to show transparency to the public. Instead, cameras were turned off and covered.
• The counting was done without witnesses, raising questions why only government officials handled advance and overseas votes without citizen observers during this critical step. She insisted the process was "not transparent, " and violated citizens' rights to oversight. This prompted many people to gather and demand explanations from officials.
  
  
• Mr. Pian Marsri said he was initially informed by students that the district director or officials in charge refused them close access to observe vote counting. They were puzzled why observation was denied since they wished to verify the process.

• He said he did not yet know the full facts because the official accused of forbidding access was absent and unreachable. This location is the main counting point for advance votes in District 7, also serving as a referendum voting site during the day. Since students and citizens viewed the process as non-transparent, the Pathum Thani Election Commission Office has no authority to intervene. They must collect facts and submit them to the full Election Commission, which will decide whether to order a recount as requested.
  
  
• He asked the students to file a formal complaint so the facts can be verified and presented to higher authorities. He added that if all parties act reasonably, dialogue is possible and trust is essential. The decision on when a recount may occur rests solely with the full Election Commission. The students were advised to submit a petition for the Commission to consider the recount.

• The reporter added that about four hours have passed, yet the students remain, continuing to camp out while awaiting a response from Election Commission officials to demand a recount.
  
  At approximately 09:10 a.m., the reporter said officials ordered a "full recount" to demonstrate fairness.
   
  Further updates will be reported as they develop.