The Election Commission has received a total of 111 direct complaints about alleged campaign violations, backed with evidence, since May 23, and nearly half of them are about slander and intimidation by candidates. The EC also received another 410 poll-related complaints lodged via its hotline and website without any supporting evidence.
The commission said on Wednesday that of the 111 complaints, 51 alleged slander and acts of intimidation, 17 allege cash handouts in return for votes, four complained of candidates organising parties to woo votes, 20 questioned the political neutrality of government officials and 19 were related to campaign billboards and campaign rallies.
Election commissioner Sodsri Satayathum said the EC had resolved to drop 10 cases against election candidates because it found no grounds to the election violation allegations.
The EC will issue red cards to disqualify candidates if they are found to be involved in vote buying, she said.
She called on members of the public to quickly alert the EC about any vote buying in their constituencies and to submit evidence to the commission so an inquiry can begin immediately.
Source: Bangkok Post : EC gets 521 poll violation complaints.