PHNOM PENH: NEC officials counted 440,000 invalidated ballots out of a total of more than 8.2 million. The NEC was clear that the spoiled ballots did not affect the outcome of Sunday’s National Assembly election. Preliminary results were announced the same evening of the election, showing the long-reigning Cambodian People’s Party leading the count and winning 120 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly.
NEC spokesman Hang Puthea confirmed to EAC News that 440,000 ballots, or 5% of the total, were invalid. He added that the number of invalid ballots for this year's election was down from the roughly 600,000 invalid ballots submitted in 2018.
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nytha said in a press conference after the election that the ballots were invalid and did not affect the results of the election. According to Tep Nytha, during the vote count, there were no major complaints. He said that this year's election process had very few obstacles, including rain that forced a polling station in Prey Veng province to relocate.
Hang Puthea confirmed that during the election, authorities arrested two men who caused irregularities at the polling stations, the first of which occurred at the polling station at Wat Moha Montrey Primary School in Phnom Penh after a man tried to pocket his ballot. Another man in Stung Meanchey district was arrested after crossing out his ballot and taking photos of it while in the voting booth.
In Tbong Khmum province, a young man voted but refused to dip his finger in the indelible ink to show he had voted. The police took him in for questioning and found he had tested positive for drugs. The authorities then requested that his guardians send him to the Kratie Provincial Rehabilitation Center for treatment.
The NEC also addressed multiple voter counts that showed massive spikes over short periods of time immediately following the election. They said that internet disruptions due to weather had affected some precinct’s ability to turn in their numbers in a timely fashion.
NEC Spokesperson Tep Nytha stated that the NEC spent over $50 million dollars on this year’s election, half of which was spent on equipment and most of the other half going towards the salaries of the more than 150,000 polling officials.
NEC Chairman Prach Chan emphasized that the official election results will be announced between August 9 and September 4, 2023, in the absence of complaints or calls for re-election. According to preliminary results, the CPP had another landslide victory this year, winning 120 seats, while the five remaining seats went to the royalist FUNCINPEC party. None of the other 16 parties were able to garner enough votes to win any seats in the National Assembly.
