Constitutional Court Orders Srisuwan to Submit Written Opinion on QR Code Election Ballots' Constitutional Compliance
The Constitutional Court has ordered activist Srisuwan Janya to submit a written opinion on whether the Election Commission's use of QR codes on ballots violates constitutional requirements for ballot secrecy. The submission, due within 15
On May 10, 2026, Srisuwan Janya, leader of the Thai Nation Lovers Organization, announced that his organization has received an order from the Constitutional Court to submit a written opinion on whether the Election Commission's use of QR codes and barcodes on ballots complies with the Constitution and laws. The submission must address specific points outlined by the court and include relevant supporting documents in connection with a complaint filed through the Ombudsman under Section 213 of the 2017 Constitution.
Srisuwan explained that he initially filed a petition with the Ombudsman on February 13, 2026, requesting the court consider whether the Election Commission's barcodes on ballots could compromise ballot secrecy and the integrity of recent parliamentary elections, and whether the 2023 Election Commission Regulations Section 129 align with the 2017 Constitution Section 85 and the 2018 Election Law Sections 84 and 86. The Constitutional Court voted 6-3 to accept the Ombudsman's petition on March 18, 2026, designating it as case 30/2569.
For the court's consideration, Srisuwan stated that the Constitutional Court has ordered the organization to prepare written opinions addressing five specific issues, including how voters exercise their voting rights, visibility of QR and barcodes, methods that could reveal another person's voting choice or identify the voter, complaints filed before media coverage, and submission of all related evidence.
While Srisuwan believes some of the court's questions may diverge from the original complaint's intent—since the core issue is whether barcodes compromise ballot secrecy—he acknowledged he cannot challenge the court's discretion. The organization will expedite its response, compile evidence, and request additional witness testimony, submitting everything to the Constitutional Court within 15 days as required under the 2017 Constitutional Court Procedure Act Section 27(3), aiming to uphold the Constitution's integrity and prevent illegal exercise of state power.
