Bangkok: Secretary-General of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT), Mr. Saeng Boonmee, has clarified that there will be no provision for advance voting in the upcoming referendum, as it is not mandated by law. However, registration for voting outside the designated district will be available. The ECT has outlined four methods for voters to exercise their rights in the parliamentary elections and the referendum, with registration required by January 5th.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Saeng Boonmee addressed the matter on Facebook, explaining the voting procedures for the parliamentary elections and the referendum scheduled for February 8, 2026. He emphasized that while there is no advance registration for the referendum due to legal constraints, the law does allow voters to cast their referendum votes outside their registered province on the same day as the parliamentary elections. This simultaneous scheduling means that voters can register to vote outside their province on February 8th.
Mr. Saeng further clarified that advance voting for Members of Parliament on February 1, 2026, and voting in the referendum outside the constituency on February 8, 2026, are distinct processes. If the general election and the referendum were held on separate days, the process would be less burdensome for the public. However, their coinciding dates place the responsibility on the voters.
The ECT has recommended four guidelines to ensure voters can participate in both parliamentary elections and referendums without losing their rights. Firstly, voters can participate in both events on February 8th at the same polling station. Secondly, those registered for advance voting on February 1st can cast their referendum vote outside their province on February 8th. Thirdly, individuals who registered only for advance voting in the parliamentary elections and did not register for the referendum can inform authorities of their inability to vote in the referendum without facing restrictions. Lastly, it is possible to cancel or change registration within the designated period, ending January 5, 2026.