Protesters have demanded a recount of ballots in Chon Buri's constituency 1, claiming that ballot boxes were not properly sealed after voting ended on Sunday.
According to the EC's vote count dashboard, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin of the Bhumjaithai Party won the constituency with 43,703 votes, followed by People’s Party candidate Warot Sirirak with 39,920 - a margin of 3,783 votes.
Officially, 98,894 voters cast ballots, 92,439 ballots were found valid, 2,127 invalid and 4,328 ballots ticked in the no-vote box.
Demonstrators gathered at the badminton court of the Muang Chon Buri municipal office near the Muang Chon Buri district office on Monday and remained overnight. They said ballot boxes stored in the badminton court were not secured with cable ties but with plastic rope.
Demonstrators prevented officials moving the boxes to a local branch of the Chon Buri election office and demanded an immediate vote recount. The Muang Chon Buri district chief ordered the ballot boxes secured.
EC deputy secretary-general Chanin Noilek arrived at the scene at 1.35am on Tuesday. He told demonstrators that only the EC had authority to order a recount. The EC was scheduled to meet at 10am Tuesday.
In constituency 1, most voters, 41,689, voted for the list-MP candidates of the People’s Party, followed by 26,989 ballots for Bhumjaithai.
Observers and the questioned ballot boxes in Muang district, Chon Buri, on Tuesday morning. (Photo supplied)
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin (file photo)
