Tearing ballots found in many areas

Elderly voters in Samut Prakarn and Maha Sarakam tore apart ballots on Sunday reportedly because of misunderstanding.

In the first case, police detained Prasong Yuhuat, 60, who voted at a polling station in Muang district.

She claimed said she had no intention to tear the ballot. "When I was voting for the proportionate MP, I wrote down a number instead of making X mark. When I realised the mistake, I tore the ballot and would ask for a new one," she said.

Wanpen Buranapon, director of the polling unit, said that she saw Prasong tear the ballot and tried to stop her but failed. Prasong admitted the guilt but insisted that she had not intent to do so.

Despite that, Prasong was detained for further questioning.

Also in Muang district, police detained a 67yearold man, Thongchai Buamuang, for destroying the ballot.

Police arrived at the polling unit in Muang disstrict and found Thongchai being detained by election officials.

Thongchai ripped apart into pieces ballots for proportionate and partylist MPs. He claimed that he tore into pieces the ballots so that he could put them into the ballot boxes.

In Maha Sarakham, a 71yearold man, Sawat Sriprasert, was detained after he tore apart ballot of proportionate MP.

He claimed that he misunderstood that he had to tore the ballot before dropping into the ballot boox.

Withaya Limanonwarachai, director of EC in Maha Sarakham said he believed that Sawat may misunderstand the process. He said he had ordered officials in every polling stations in the province to avoid misunderstanding.

In Kamphaeng Phet, 75yearold Prasith Ngamsuay tore his ballot because he wanted a new ballot as he had made a wrong mark.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, 73yearold Samreng Chuadee tore her ballot because she misunderstood that  she had to make it into two parts.

In district of Samut Sakhon, Yen Chatthan tore his ballot because he was drunk.