For the first time in Thailand’s political history, 52.9 million eligible voters on February 8 will not only elect 500 members of Parliament but also decide whether a new constitution should be created.
Each voter will receive three ballot papers – two for the general election and one for the national referendum.
Three ballot papers
On February 8, election day, each voter will receive three ballot papers: a pink form of political parties in the list election, a green form of candidates in the constituency election, and a yellow form for the constitution referendum.
The referendum question reads: “Do you agree that a new constitution shall be written?” Voters have three choices: “Agree”, “Not agree”, or “No comment”.
Priciest national vote
With two polling events held on the same day, supposedly to save costs, the upcoming national vote will be Thailand’s most expensive, with a price tag of 8.97 billion baht (6.7 billion for the election and another 2.2 billion for the referendum).
That is about 3 billion baht higher than the two previous general elections – 5.80 billion in 2019 and 5.94 billion in 2023. By contrast, the general election held two decades ago in 2005 cost just 3.5 billion baht.
Previous referendums
The last two charter-related referendums cost about 1 billion baht each. A little over 1 billion was spent on the August 2007 poll to accept or reject the constitution drafted to replace the one annulled following the 2006 military coup. The resulting 2007 charter was, however, torn up after the next military takeover in May 2014.
The August 2016 poll on the draft to replace the 2007 charter cost 1.2 billion baht. Accepted by a majority vote, the draft was promulgated as Thailand’s current constitution in April 2017.
Candidate numbers
Sixty political parties have fielded a total of 3,526 candidates to contest for the 400 constituency MP seats. In the list vote, 57 parties have put forward a total of 1,570 candidates. Meanwhile, 43 parties have nominated prime ministerial candidates, according to the Election Commission.
Only three parties are vying for all 100 seats up for grabs in the list system – United Thai Nation, Pheu Thai, and Klatham – while the People’s Party is contesting 99, the Democrats 98, and Bhumjaithai 97.
Nineteen parties have opted to nominate the maximum three PM candidates, with 12 naming two and another 12 naming one.
Bangkok has most constituencies
As the most populous province, Bangkok has the greatest number of constituencies at 33, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima with 16; Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani (11 each), Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Buriram, and Udon Thani (10 each); and Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Sisaket (nine each).
Four provinces – Trat, Ranong, Samut Songkhram, and Singburi – have just a single constituency each, while the rest have between two and eight.
Required identification
Polling stations will be open from 8am to 5pm on February 8. Advance voting for registered absentees will be held on February 1, one week before the national election. Just over 1 million (1,047,661) eligible voters have registered for advance voting, including 82,033 living overseas, according to the Election Commission.
Voters are required to present valid identification at polling stations. This can be a national ID card (expired cards are accepted), a driver’s licence or passport. Electronic identification via official mobile applications is also accepted.
Voter qualifications
To vote, you must be:
· A Thai national. (Naturalised citizens must have held Thai nationality for at least five years.)
· At least 18 years old on election day
· A registered resident of the constituency for at least 90 days prior to election day.
People barred from voting
· Buddhist monks, novices, priests, or clergy members
· Those whose voting rights have been revoked
· People detained by court order or lawful command
· Individuals deemed insane or mentally deranged
What not to do
At the polling station, voters are prohibited from:
· Using another person’s ID or a fake card
· Using a ballot paper not provided by a polling station official
· Removing a ballot paper from the polling station
· Photographing their marked ballot paper
· Displaying their marked ballot paper
· Intentionally damaging a ballot paper
Violators face penalties ranging from fines of 20,000 to 200,000 baht and prison terms of one to 10 years.
