Sonthiya refuted Parit, affirming that the Senate ballot lists are merely routine reminders issued by the Election Commission (EC) as part of standard measures, emphasizing that the cross-group lottery system prevents vote blocking.
15 Jun 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Sonthiya Sawatdee a political complainant and former candidate for the Bangkok Senate, spoke regarding the case in which Mr. Parit Watcharasindhu, a party-list Member of Parliament from the Prachachon Party, claimed that ballot lists were used in the Senate election, insisting that based on his experience observing election processes, those lists have no effect on voting whatsoever.
Sonthiya explained that during Senate elections at district and provincial levels, all candidates receive an introductory booklet listing individuals in the same group. Some candidates, especially the elderly, write down names of acquaintances or notable performers to aid memory, which is a basic and understandable practice.
However, the Election Commission has measures requiring these documents or ballot lists to be kept outside polling stations before voting begins. Moreover, the key factor is the cross-group lottery system, which prevents vote blocking or fixed outcomes.
"The problem in Senate elections is not the ballot lists. Even if you have one, once the cross-group lottery assigns you to different groups, that list is useless. During voting, everyone must proceed to the front to mark ballots under continuous CCTV surveillance. Thus, the ballot lists hold no significance," he said.
Sonthiya concluded that on election day, the lottery room seating is not fixed; acquaintances might sit together by chance. He personally sat alone or only with candidates who greeted him. Therefore, the ballot lists are merely reminders the EC uses as routine measures, which in practice cannot influence the aggregate votes of the 100 candidates in the room.