Bizarre Vote Count in Bangkok City Council: 44 Members Present but 45 'Yes' Votes Cast
A minor commotion unfolded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Council when the quorum count and voting results did not match, later revealed to be caused by an incompletely inserted card.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Bangkok City Council faced confusion when 44 members registered presence, but 45 voted 'yes'.
- Council members debated actively to investigate the discrepancy and ensure transparency.
- The mix-up was traced back to Virat, Bangkok Yai councilor, who failed to fully insert his voting card.
At 5:55 PM during a Bangkok Metropolitan Council session, a commotion arose following the final debate speech by Min Buri councilor Virat Meechainant. Council President Patraporn asked the assembly to vote on the draft ordinance after checking the quorum. Wang Thonglang councilor Anurak Lertwattanaiboon, representing the Democrat Party, suggested waiting five minutes in case late members were still arriving. Meanwhile, Ratburana councilor Kittipong Ruayfuphan urged an immediate vote, emphasizing that council members' duty is to be present. President Patraporn then instructed the members to press the colored buttons upon the flashing signal.
However, after the voting concluded, records showed only 44 registered attendees, yet the 'yes' votes totaled 45, with zero opposing, abstaining, or uncast votes. Ratchathewi councilor Ekkawin Chokpraspornwai promptly stood up to question why the vote count exceeded the initial quorum.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This discrepancy prompted several council members to voice their concerns and propose solutions. Anurak questioned if the voting equipment was malfunctioning, while Bang Khae councilor Amnat Panpueak requested a re-vote to ensure complete transparency. Bang Rak councilor Vipudh Sriwasakul compared the situation to an airline passenger manifest mismatch, suggesting a simple headcount row by row. Secretariat staff subsequently verified and confirmed a count of 45 members across both sides.
Discrepancies of this nature frequently occur in legislative bodies utilizing electronic voting systems combined with physical smart card insertion. Mismatches between attendance and vote tallies often raise legal and procedural concerns. The immediate verification and transparent public roll-call conducted by the Bangkok City Council serve as crucial steps in maintaining public trust and procedural integrity in local governance.
"I apologize. I did put my card in during the quorum count, but not all the way down. The vote followed the assembly's resolution, and I sincerely apologize as I genuinely did not know."
Virat Khongkhaket, Bangkok Yai Council Member
Ultimately, the mystery was solved when Virat Khongkhaket, councilor for Bangkok Yai, admitted he was the extra person. He confirmed he was present in the room but failed to push his card all the way in during the initial headcount. Klong San councilor Somchai Tempaiboonkul, who sat next to Virat, corroborated that he noticed the card was not fully pressed down until council staff assisted, successfully resolving the mystery.
Source: Matichon Politics
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