The Constitutional Court has scheduled to rule on the QR code barcode issue on election ballots on 28 September, after hearing five witnesses. It has allowed the parties to inspect the ballots storage site alongside two judges tomorrow.
On 26 August 2026, the Constitutional Court conducted a hearing with five witnesses in a case where the Ombudsman reported receiving 22 complaints requesting a ruling under Section 213 of the Constitution. The complaints concern the Election Commission's management of the general election for House of Representatives members held on 8 February 2026, specifically the design and printing of ballots featuring barcodes and QR codes. It is believed these codes could allow identification and verification of voters and their votes, compromising ballot secrecy and violating Articles 4, 25, 32, 34, 50(7), 83 paragraph 2, 85, 95, and 224 of the Constitution. During the hearing, Narong Kanwarin, Chairman of the Election Commission, attended to observe the proceedings.
The five witnesses summoned by the court included: 1. Nitriya Rattanathasanee, Senior Computer Scientist at the Election Commission Office; 2. Worapong Anancharoenkij, Director of the Election Support Bureau at the Election Commission Office; 3. Pakpoom Phoodum, Director of T.K.S. Technology Public Company Limited; 4. Kanyanat Pikulthong, Director of Janwanich Security Printing Company Limited; and 5. Saweang Bunmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission. The court also permitted the Election Commission, represented by Lieutenant Phasakorn Siriphakayaporn, Deputy Secretary-General, to demonstrate the ballot storage process.
During the hearing, the court suspended live audio and video transmission and strictly instructed attendees not to disclose any information obtained from today's proceedings to outsiders.
The hearing lasted over three hours. Chief Justice Udom Sitthivirattham informed the parties that the court deemed it necessary to conduct an on-site inspection of evidence outside the court premises, in accordance with the Constitutional Court Procedure Rules of 2019. The court appointed Virul Sangthian, Noppadon Theppitak, and the responsible investigation unit to jointly inspect the ballot storage location, including the original ballots, remaining ballots, voter lists, and election materials used in the general election on 8 February 2026 in Bangkok, on Thursday, 27 August, starting at 10:00 a.m. The parties are invited to participate in the inspection; any party not attending at the designated time will be considered to have no objection.
Today, the court proceeded to hear testimony from the five witnesses it had summoned, who answered the court's questions. The court permitted the parties to cross-examine the witnesses further under Section 60, paragraph three of the Constitutional Court Procedure Act of 2018. The hearing was recorded via audio and video. Parties wishing to submit closing statements must do so by Friday, 11 September; failure to submit will be considered no objection. The court scheduled oral arguments and deliberations for Monday, 28 September 2026, at 9:30 a.m., with the verdict to be announced the same day at 14:00.
