Chaiyan acknowledges serving as a witness in the election ballot barcode case, citing that the UK model also uses this system. He urges the Constitutional Court to clarify its ruling to curb rumors and foster peace.
On 8 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Chaiyan Chaiyaporn, a special lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science, revealed during an academic seminar by the Constitutional Court Office about the progress in the election ballot barcode case. He said he was invited by the Election Commission (EC) to be a witness in the case. He has already provided some testimony and is currently studying additional information.
Chaiyan stated that according to international principles, such as those in the UK, barcodes or QR codes have long been used on ballots primarily to prevent ballot forgery, a principle also applied by Thailand's EC. Regarding concerns about tracing votes back to individual voters, in the UK it is technically possible but very difficult and only done in cases of serious suspicion, such as investigations uncovering foreigners illegally voting. The verification process there is highly complex and stringent.
Furthermore, Chaiyan suggested the Constitutional Court's role amid social conflict. He emphasized that the court should explain the background of its rulings in language easily understood by the public to prevent rumors or criticism about the judges' origins. He believes the judges’ backgrounds matter less than the spirit and transparency in their interpretation once in office. He also proposed translating rulings into foreign languages to foster correct global understanding and reduce foreign attacks on the court.
“The Constitutional Court should not act like an ordinary court; it must be broader and closer to the people, especially in cases balancing the protection of the monarchy and citizens’ freedoms. This issue will remain in Thai society until the political system is firmly established. The court must accelerate understanding to maintain domestic peace and prepare for a potentially more progressive new constitution in the future,” Chaiyan concluded.