The dates of elections in Thailand are set by the Election Commission. They are usually on the last Sunday, within 45 days, from the term expiry for incumbent elected officials. It is uncommon for voters to be asked to cast their ballots on a Saturday, like today, but there are reasons for it.
Holding the elections last Sunday (January 26th) would not have left enough time for election officials to carry out all the required tasks. These include re-assigning electoral districts for all 76 provinces, verifying the candidates’ qualifications, sending all the ballot papers to polling stations and allowing time for the candidates to campaign.
On the other hand, holding them tomorrow (February 2nd) would make the time available to complete the post-poll processes very tight to meet legal deadlines. Holding them today buys the officials an extra 24 hours.
Thais are electing Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) chief executives and councillors today. There are over 90,000 polling stations. Sending the ballot papers in for counting is no small feat.
So, what about eligible voters work on Saturdays? By law, today is neither a holiday nor a paid leave day. The Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act (2019) provides, however, that employers must allow time off work for their employees to go to the polls.
