The future of Bangkok for the next four years is in the hands of about 4.5 million eligible voters as they head to the polls today to elect their next governor.
The winner will become Bangkok's 18th governor. Seventeen people have previously held the position, including eight elected governors and nine appointed governors. Former governor Chadchart Sittipunt is seeking a second term as an independent.
A total of 4,507,523 people are expected to cast their ballots in one of Thailand's most closely watched local elections, which also includes the election of members of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC).
Polling stations across the capital are open from 8am to 5pm.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said the unofficial result of the gubernatorial election could be announced as soon as 9pm.
The ballot for the governorship will be green, while the ballot for the BMC election will be pink.
A total of 18 candidates, including three women, are running for governor, while 258 candidates are contesting the BMC election across the capital's 50 districts. Khlong Sam Wa, Phasi Charoen, Khan Na Yao and Yan Nawa have the largest number of BMC candidates.
If an eligible voter is unable to vote due to unavoidable circumstances, they must notify the authorities within seven days before
Election Day or within seven days after Election Day by one of the following methods:
• In person at the district office where they are registered to vote, or by authorising someone else to submit the notification on their behalf.
• By registered mail.
• Online via the website or the SMART VOTE application.
A total of 6,629 polling stations have been set up across Bangkok, down from 6,817 in 2022, while the BMA has allocated 294.1 million baht for the election, up 41.5% from the previous poll.
The electorate has grown by 2.4% since the 2022 election, increasing from 4,402,948 eligible voters to 4,507,523 this year.
In the previous gubernatorial election, voter turnout reached 60.73%, with 95.8% of ballots deemed valid, 1.5% invalid and 2.7% cast as "no vote". Turnout for the BMC election was slightly lower at 60.48%.
Thailand's Election Commission, meanwhile, has banned the sale, distribution and serving of all alcoholic beverages during the Bangkok gubernatorial and Pattaya mayoral elections. The ban came into force in Bangkok and Pattaya at 6pm yesterday and will remain in effect until 6pm today.
Upon conviction, violators face up to six months in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both, under Section 123 of the Local Election Act.
The election coincides with the rainy season, raising the possibility that showers could affect voter turnout in parts of the capital.
