Bangkok: Registration for absentee voting in the upcoming referendum and general election is set to open soon, allowing voters to cast their ballots outside their registered districts if necessary. However, it remains crucial for voters to exercise their voting rights on February 8, 2026, as emphasized by the Election Commission.

According to Thai News Agency, eligible voters who are unable to vote at their registered polling stations on February 8, 2026, due to being away from their hometowns, can register to vote outside their districts. This provision is specifically for the general election of Members of Parliament, where early voting is scheduled for February 1, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Registration for this advance voting will be available from December 20, 2025, to January 5, 2026, through three different channels.

It’s important to note that this registration applies solely to the general election and not to the referendum on the draft constitution. As per the Referendum Act, referendums must occur on the same day nationwide, with no advance voting option available. Therefore, registration for voting outside one’s registered district is not applicable for the referendum.

If the Prime Minister decides to hold the referendum on the same day as the general election, voters will need to cast their ballots on February 8, 2026. For those unable to vote at their registered domicile, the Election Commission has streamlined the registration process, allowing them to vote at a central polling station outside their district. The draft regulations for this process are ready and await publication in the Royal Gazette, potentially causing an overlap with the registration period for voting outside the district for the general election.

For instance, if Mr. A, registered in Chiang Mai Province, resides in Bangkok on the election and referendum day, he must register separately for each election to vote outside his district. Advance voting for the general election takes place on February 1, while the referendum requires voting on February 8, 2026. Registration for overseas voting in the referendum will also open, with vote counting conducted at the Thai Embassy/Consulate-General abroad, unlike the general election where ballots are returned to Thailand for counting.