The Election Commission (EC) said that it was essential for all of its members to travel overseas through the Songkran vacation period so as to organise advance voting for the May 14 election, particularly in the three African countries the place a significant variety of Thai residents now reside.
Following Dark from visits to South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco, EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong defended the decision, allaying considerations that it concerned the unnecessary use of taxpayers’ money. He emphasised that every one ballots collected abroad will be transferred to Thailand as planned by May 9, adding that the EC has been working carefully with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to oversee their switch.
The Thai embassies in these three African countries are amongst seven positioned in Africa, serving fifty seven nations across the continent where many Thai citizens reside.
Ittiporn expressed reservations about using postal providers to transport the votes due to the diversified transportation techniques in every nation but remained confident that everything could be resolved satisfactorily.
In terms of ballot transfers, round 13 countries worldwide require diplomatic officers to deal with the ballots themselves, as no direct flights are current between them and Thailand, corresponding to South Africa and several other countries in Latin America.
Ittiporn reassured the press that the EC continued to execute its duties whilst overseas. Furthermore, he acknowledged that the finances for the journey had been authorised by the House..