BANGKOK, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The independent election watchdog P-Net late Sunday accused the Election Commission (EC) of violating voters' rights of confidential voting by repositioning polling stations.

    Earlier, the EC said polling booths were being repositioned to allow greater monitoring of voter behavior to prevent electoral fraud and other irregularities.

    P-Net committee member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the watchdog planned to ask the National Human Rights Commission or the parliamentary ombudsman to take actions against the EC, which could ultimately force the resignation of the EC board or even nullify Sunday's general election.

    Somchai said the position of polling cubicles had been changed from previous elections. It allowed officials and others to see how voters had marked their ballot papers.

    He was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that P-Net would follow-up the matter and would file a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission or the parliamentary ombudsman for a ruling on whether the EC's action had violated clause 3, article 104 of the constitution's provisions on confidential voting.

    Somchai said the EC had argued that the re-arrangement of polling booths would help prevent voters using incorrect ballot sheets or taking pictures.

    According to P-Net, foreign observers at the polling stations said that the re-arrangement of the booths could be interpreted as a step backwards.

    Somchai went on to say that display of candidates' numbers at polling stations was illegal, while some booths did not provide pens for voters to use.

    Complaints were also lodged on both the internet and via telephone that many "ghost" voters had illegally cast votes before their arrival at the stations, he said.

    Expressing similar concerns, former prime minister Anand Punyarachun said that a review should be made on the position of polling cubicles.

    He said outsiders could easily see how the voter had cast their ballot, and the previous arrangement was better as it could prevent snooping. Enditem