Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has questioned whether the Election Commission (EC) formally approved barcode and quick response (QR) code systems on this year's general election ballots after demanding disclosure of the procurement documents linked to the scheme.
Mr Somchai and Thuntee Sukchotrat, a data science expert and CEO of JIB Digital Consult Group, submitted a request to the EC on Tuesday seeking 20 documents related to ballot printing for the Feb 8 election.
The requested materials include EC resolutions approving the use of barcodes and QR codes, procurement and contracting documents for ballot printing, technical explanations on anti-counterfeiting measures and policies concerning voter data protection.
The move comes amid growing scrutiny over claims that the barcode and QR code system could potentially trace ballots back to individual voters, undermining the secrecy of the vote.
Mr Thuntee said the request was filed under Thailand's information disclosure law to determine how voting data was being used and whether personal information was adequately protected.
He said he had reviewed five election-related laws and EC regulations totalling more than 600 pages, but found no reference to either barcodes or QR codes.
"This raises questions over how the system was approved, whether it complies with the Personal Data Protection Act and what safeguards exist to protect voter privacy," Mr Thuntee said.
Mr Somchai said barcode systems were also used during the 2023 election, but at that time they could only identify ballot booklets rather than individual ballot sequence numbers.
He claimed the 2026 election marked the first time the system could trace ballots back to specific ballot stubs, and thus to individual voters.
"What remains unclear is whether the procurement documents explicitly required QR codes and barcodes on the ballots. If such requirements do not appear in EC resolutions or procurement contracts, questions will arise over what authority was used to implement the system," Mr Somchai said.
