The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has assured the public that it is fully prepared for the upcoming general election, including Sunday’s early voting. The BMA has taken measures to ensure the security and safety of the voting process, including the use of CCTV cameras and motion detectors to monitor ballot boxes containing early voters’ ballots.
According to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, the BMA has already made extensive preparations for the election, with Election Commission units putting up announcements and lists of eligible voters at voting sites throughout the city. In addition, letters have been sent to each household to inform eligible voters of their status, while around 60,000 personnel have received training to facilitate the election. Equipment such as ballot boxes, voting booths, and signboards have also been prepared.
The BMA has also placed an emphasis on ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to voting booths and preventing any confusion that may arise due to the numerous polling stations in each district. Additionally, measures have been put in place to address any issues that may arise during the voting process or in the event of flooding.
To further enhance security, the BMA has installed CCTV cameras and motion detectors at 22 of the 33 locations designated for early voting. All CCTV cameras are expected to be operational by May 3, with any detected motion immediately reported to officials.
On election day, the Election Commission will take photos of the vote tally reports displayed at each polling station. Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon stated that the BMA has developed an AI tool that can read the tallies, and has notified the EC of its availability for use. If approved, the tool could speed up the process of tallying the ballots.
Overall, the BMA’s extensive preparations and use of advanced technology aim to ensure a smooth and secure election process, providing voters with confidence in the integrity of the results.