Executive Summary

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed 24 international observers in 31 provinces across Thailand to observe the campaign period, advance voting, and Election Day of the 2026 Thai parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum.

According to preliminary results, over 36 million Thai citizens participated in voting on 1 and 8 February in the country’s first-ever concurrent parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum, despite challenging weather conditions, including extreme heat and rainstorms. ANFREL commends voters for their strong commitment to democratic participation and notes a provisional turnout of 65 to 70 percent, a drop of at least five percent from the 2023 parliamentary elections.

Overall, ANFREL found that voting in the parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. Polling stations observed were generally well run, organized, and transparent, and voters were able to cast their ballots without major disruption. Advance voting was similarly assessed as orderly and efficient, and no incidents of violence, intimidation, or systematic interference were reported. 

At the same time, issues previously identified during the 2023 parliamentary elections were observed again this year at similar occurrence rates. These include perfunctory training of polling staff, inconsistent assessments of ballot validity, and administrative mistakes during advance voting. The recurrence of these concerns indicates a stagnation in the quality of election administration and highlights the need for sustained and targeted improvements to address long-standing challenges and improve confidence in electoral processes.

On Advance Voting Day and Election Day, reported shortcomings in election management were well publicized in the media and social media, affecting the trust that Thai citizens place in their election authorities and demanding both immediate actions and long-term reforms to rebuild faith in reported vote counts. 

ANFREL takes note of the demands for vote recounts in Chonburi, Maha Sarakham, Pathum Thani, Suphanburi, Chanthaburi, Lampang, and elsewhere. While our observers did not report tampering with vote counts at polling stations on Election Day, they did not have access to tabulation centers, which remained off-limits to media, election observers, and party agents alike. ANFREL stands with the public in calling for full transparency of election results and invites the Election Commission to release without delay comprehensive vote counts at the polling station level.

ANFREL also reiterates its call to revise the layout of ballot papers and regulations governing invalid ballots and align them with international standards, to ensure that the intent of voters is the foremost consideration. According to preliminary results, 3.56 percent of constituency ballots and 4.50 percent of party-list ballots were declared invalid, rates higher than what is generally regarded as normal. The Election Commission of Thailand could, for instance, conduct a comprehensive audit of invalid ballots in cooperation with civil society organizations and political parties to identify measures that could help reduce invalid ballot rates in future elections. The rate of invalid ballots in the referendum was notably lower at 2.55 percent.

ANFREL observers visited 424 polling stations on 8 February, Election and Referendum Day, covering the opening, voting, closing, and counting procedures. While polling procedures were generally followed, observers noted procedural irregularities in several polling stations. These included the absence of voter information at some polling stations, the limited presence of party representatives and observers, campaign materials visible in the vicinity of polling stations, and inconsistent access for observers. Accessibility also remains a significant concern, as voters with disabilities could not enter 23 percent of polling stations visited without assistance.

The campaign environment was vibrant and generally peaceful, and stakeholders reported being able to campaign freely. Nevertheless, concerns were raised regarding unequal access to financial resources and media exposure, persistent allegations of vote buying, and the growing presence of online disinformation, particularly in relation to the constitutional referendum.

ANFREL welcomes the Election Commission’s voter education initiatives, including the distribution of information booklets, the Smart Vote application, and nationwide awareness campaigns. At the same time, referendum voter education was widely perceived as insufficient, and official information materials contained errors that may have caused confusion among voters.

The legal and political framework continues to shape electoral competition, including ongoing judicial involvement in political processes and a restrictive environment affecting freedom of expression. ANFREL is concerned by the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s verdict on 9 February, finding 44 former Move Forward Party MPs guilty of serious ethical violations for exercising their rights as legislators and forwarding the case to the Supreme Court, which could disqualify 15 People’s Party MPs standing for re-election and ban them from politics for life.

Participation was inclusive at the voter level, with active engagement from women and youth. However, barriers remain to the full and independent participation of persons with disabilities, and women continue to be underrepresented among candidates and in political leadership.

ANFREL will continue its observation through the post-election period and will publish a comprehensive final report with detailed findings and recommendations.

Read the full interim statement here: “ANFREL Interim Statement on the Conduct of the2026 Thai Parliamentary Elections and Constitutional Referendum“