Election Commission Monitors 42 Provinces with Intense Campaign Battles, Mobilizes Half the Country's Police to Prevent Vote Buying

On January 31, 2024, Sawaeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC), disclosed details about election vote-buying concerns. The EC has developed a region-specific strategy, identifying 35 provinces with normal competition and 42 provinces with intense electoral battles. The EC has intensified monitoring and deployed police forces from across half the country as a rapid prevention and surveillance team to inspect areas before the election. Additionally, election observers and local democratic development centers will report any suspicious activities. Sawaeng acknowledged that vote-buying rumors are persistent but emphasized preventive measures by administrative and police units. He noted that while preparing money for potential vote buying might be possible, actually distributing it is prohibited. Regarding an unusual cash withdrawal of 250 million baht, Sawaeng revealed that the Bank of Thailand provided information about 6 bank customers with irregular transactions. The EC will investigate potential connections to political parties or candidates, with a report to be presented on February 2nd. While the purpose of these large cash withdrawals remains unclear, Sawaeng stressed that they are working with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to trace the money's origins and determine any potential electoral misconduct.