Social Security Board election postponed due to flooding

Oct 11 date chosen after People’s Party and labour leader argue for delay

The nationwide election for a new Social Security Board has been rescheduled from Sunday to Oct 11 due to heavy rain and flooding in several parts of the country, organisers said on Saturday.

The decision was made at a special meeting of Election Management Centre committee members at the Social Security Office (SSO) headquarters in Nonthaburi.

Members convened at 11am and at 4pm they announced that the election would be postponed because flooding could hamper voters travelling to polling stations and also affect the work of polling-station committees.

The postponement is intended to ensure the election can be conducted properly and in line with the prevailing situation, the committee said.

Earlier on Saturday, the People’s Party and veteran labour leader Panus Thailuan had called for the election to be postponed because of prevailing conditions.

They said the vote should be delayed until the flood situation improves, in order to protect equality and the voting rights of all insured workers.

They noted that severe flooding has affected many areas, including Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Sa Kaeo, Trat, Surin and Chon Buri provinces.

The main opposition party said it strongly opposed holding elections only in unaffected areas or postponing the vote at selected polling stations, arguing that many insured workers travelling from flood-hit areas would be unable to vote safely.

Proceeding with the election without advance voting or an alternative polling date could effectively deprive workers whose travel routes had been cut off or who had to care for their families during the emergency of their voting rights. (Story continues below)

Kanchana Poolkaew (left), secretary-general of the Social Security Office leads officials to launch a campaign in the Rama IX area of Bangkok on Sept 13, urging insured workers to vote for the new Social Security Board. (Photo: SSO)

Mr Panus, a former Social Security Board member and chairman of the National Congress of Thai Labour, called for a postponement of at least seven days.

In a Facebook post, he said flooding was already affecting access to polling stations in some areas, adding that even his home, which had never previously flooded, was affected and small vehicles could no longer leave.

The People’s Party has long campaigned for improvements to the Social Security system. Encouraging people to take part in board elections and seek board seats is a key part of the party’s grassroots political organising strategy.

In 2023, the Progressive Social Security group backed by the party was a runaway winner in the country’s first Social Security Board election.