Bangkok: The Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC) announced that the first day of registration for party-list MPs and prime minister candidates went smoothly, with 32 parties having already submitted their prime minister candidates. The EC has committed to organizing the referendum and overseas elections efficiently, despite limited personnel. They are confident that, even with the current border situation, the elections can still be held as scheduled on February 8, 2026.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Saeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, provided an overview of the first day of registration for party-list MPs and the submission of the Prime Minister candidate list for the Pheu Thai Party. He reported that registration for party-list candidates opened today, and everything proceeded smoothly due to the cooperation of political parties, supporters, and the media. By 8:30 AM, fifty-two political parties had registered, and all submitted complete documentation. The drawing of campaign numbers was concluded, and a total of 68 Prime Minister candidates were nominated by thirty-two political parties. Parties that have not yet nominated candidates have until December 31, 2025, to do so.

Regarding election campaign policies, fifty-two political parties have submitted their proposals, which will reach 19 million eligible households. A committee has been established by the Election Commission to examine these policies, ensuring they include four essential elements as stipulated in Section 52 of the Political Parties Act. The committee is composed of representatives from various sectors, including government agencies and experts like Mr. Veera Teerapat, to ensure public confidence in the review process.

Mr. Saeng expressed gratitude to all parties involved for the smooth conduct of the recruitment process. He also detailed plans for the upcoming referendum, explaining that the process will include information dissemination, opinion expression forums, and campaigns, all aimed at ensuring equality and fairness. Political parties can campaign for the referendum as long as they adhere to legal guidelines and refrain from defamatory or false statements.

Concerning the elections along the Thai-Cambodian border, Mr. Saeng emphasized the Election Commission's commitment to holding the election on February 8, 2026. While acknowledging potential legal stipulations that could affect this date, he expressed confidence that the necessary preparations for a fair and honest election will be in place by then. The EC is also coordinating with security forces to ensure that military and medical personnel in conflict zones can vote, and is facilitating voting for Thai citizens in Cambodia.

Mr. Saeng also addressed the facilitation of the referendum outside the Kingdom. The steering committee is actively working to encourage citizens to vote, despite increased challenges for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to the simultaneous referendum. While election ballots will be sent to Thailand for counting, referendum ballots will be counted abroad. Despite the same number of personnel, the workload has increased, but the EC has prepared contingency plans and is committed to improving upon previous efforts.