BANGKOK, April 4 (TNA) – Thailand’s Election Commission
(EC) orders new elections at six polling stations and vote recounts at two
others after finding irregularities and incorrect vote counting in the March 24
election.
The EC issued a statement on Thursday ordering recounts at
two polling stations in Khon Kaen province will be done by local
officials. And it also orders new
elections at six polling stations in five provinces — Yasothon, Lampang,
Phetchabun, Phitsanulok and Bangkok — tentatively scheduled for April 15.
Sawaeng Boonmee, deputy secretary-general of the EC, said
the main reason for the decision was the number of voters did not match the
total ballots.
Early results released by the EC so far show no single party
an absolute majority.
Although politicians called on the EC to announce official
results, the EC has insisted it will announce the official election results by
May 9.
The Commission maintains that it has to address problems and
handle complaints against candidates.
The decision is the EC’s first action following the
country’s first election since the 2014 military coup. It came as the EC has been under mounting
pressure to clarify election results and allegations over mismanagement.
Before the official results, candidates could be
disqualified that subsequently lead to new polls in some constituencies.
Mr Sawaeng said the Thursday’s decision for recounts and new
polls in these polling stations was based on preliminary findings.
Observers agree that the recounts and new elections will
unlikely have significantly effect on the results of the elections.(TNA)
