Early voting for Thailand’s parliamentary elections began on Sunday (1 February), with more than two million eligible voters casting ballots nationwide ahead of the 8 February general election, as authorities acknowledged errors and irregularities at some polling stations.
Polling opened at 8 AM local time (0100 GMT) across Bangkok and other provinces, with advance voting intended for citizens unable to vote on election day. The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) said all ballots would be counted together after 8 February.
Authorities set up more than 860 polling stations nationwide. Bangkok recorded the highest turnout, with 844,672 people registered for advance voting. Overall, Thailand has 52.92 million registered voters, while the ECT said 2.41 million people signed up to vote early.
“I hope that we can get a leader that can develop communities that would then lead to a better society, not just the policies that will get them victory,” said Archakrit Kaowong, 33, after casting his ballot.
Another voter, Thatsanan Khumbanluang, 28, said she hoped the next government would “lead the country to a better future”.
The vote follows months of political turbulence.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called a snap election in December after less than 100 days in office, amid parliamentary turmoil and a looming no-confidence vote following the failure of a constitutional amendment bill.
The contest has narrowed into a three-way race between Anutin’s conservative Bhumjaithai Party, the reformist People’s Party, successor to the Move Forward Party, and the populist Pheu Thai Party, backed by the family of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Opinion polls suggest no party is likely to secure an outright majority, raising the prospect of post-election coalition negotiations.
The early voting was overshadowed by public criticism of the ECT after reports of irregularities emerged from several provinces.
Voters and political candidates shared complaints on social media about incomplete or incorrect candidate lists, long delays, wrong electoral district codes and registration errors that prevented some people from voting.
In Phuket, voters reported that the name of a candidate who had already been revoked still appeared on information boards.
Other complaints included alleged violations of the ban on photography inside polling stations and reports of ballot papers being improperly handled.
The Office for Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee issued a public apology, pledging that all mistakes would be addressed and that similar problems would not recur on election day.
He also confirmed that the commission was investigating a suspected case of vote-buying in Surat Thani province, though no details were released.
More than 90 candidates from 57 political parties are contesting the election. Official results must be announced by 9 April, after which the new parliament will convene to elect a speaker before voting to select Thailand’s next prime minister.
Uzbekistan is combining renewable energy expansion with sweeping land restoration, installing solar stations in local communities while rehabilitating...
Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. I...
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statement...
Measles cases across Europe and Central Asia fell sharply in 2025 compared to the previous year but health officials have warned that the risk of fres...
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, ...
Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. It would mark a pivotal shift in the country's political landscape on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, stunned viewers by publicly admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend and pleaded for another chance during post-race interviews.
Mexican Alpine skier Lasse Gaxiola will have his mother for company on his Olympic debut but she will not be cheering him from the finish area in Saturday's giant slalom in Bormio because she will be three hours away preparing her own race.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
António José Seguro’s decisive victory over far-right challenger André Ventura marks an historic moment in Portuguese politics, but analysts caution that the result does not amount to a rejection of populism.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that technical nuclear issues are being discussed alongside political matters in ongoing negotiations.
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, stunned viewers by publicly admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend and pleaded for another chance during post-race interviews.
Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. It would mark a pivotal shift in the country's political landscape on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 11th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A proposed multinational peacekeeping force for Gaza could involve around 20,000 personnel, with Indonesia estimating it may contribute up to 8,000, a spokesman for Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment