A female election official in Phayao District 1, accused of stealing ballots to vote for candidate number 46 from the People's Party, has recently reversed her position by denying all charges and plans to contest the case in court.
On 10 Feb 2026 GMT+7, reporters updated on a case involving an election committee member (ECM) assigned to polling station 6, Village No. 4, Tha Wang Thong Subdistrict, Mueang Phayao District, Phayao Province. She impersonated a voter and tore 7 ballots before entering the voting booth to mark her vote. As she was about to drop the ballots into the box, the polling station chairperson noticed irregularities and intervened promptly, preventing the ballots from being cast.
Following the incident, police, Election Commission officials, and local administrative officers inspected the polling station. They took the female ECM and evidence to the Mueang Phayao Police Station to press charges under Section 23 of the Election Act. Initially, the ECM confessed during questioning, claiming she was hired by individuals connected to a political party, and this matter is under further investigation.
Recently, reporters confirmed from Police Colonel Chalermchat Yavichai, Superintendent of Mueang Phayao Police Station, that although charges were initially filed, Ms. Juthathip denied the allegations during the investigation and chose to present her defense in court. Both police and the Election Commission have formally charged her under Section 23 of the Election Act for parliamentary elections; she has since denied the charges and plans to testify at trial.