Bangkok: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has declared that extending the voter registration period for the upcoming referendum is not feasible. The ECT emphasized compliance with legal requirements and stressed the importance of voters participating within their registered districts, citing a discrepancy of over 600,000 votes. To ensure public understanding, the ECT is preparing to set up mock polling stations and promote the voting process.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Saweang Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, addressed calls for an extension of the absentee voting registration period, explaining that it is impossible due to legal time constraints. These include tasks such as separating voter registration lists, identifying eligible voters abroad, compiling lists for over 100,000 general voting units, and managing other administrative duties.
Mr. Boonmee highlighted that with a three-day registration period, individuals have ample time to complete the process, which takes only three minutes if prepared. He urged voters to manage their time efficiently and emphasized that extending the registration period would disrupt other operations.
On January 5, 2026, the final registration day, the number of registrants surpassed those in the 2023 election for both district and overseas voters. There were 900,000 registrants for advance voting and 1 million for the referendum outside their districts, indicating the system's capacity to handle registrations despite minor issues.
Mr. Boonmee noted the significant difference between advance voters and those registered for the referendum outside their district. Approximately 2.2 million registered for advance voting, compared to 1.6 million for the referendum, a 600,000-person discrepancy. He cautioned against assuming that advance voters would also register for the referendum outside their district.
Legal requirements prevent voters from choosing polling stations outside their province for the referendum. Mr. Boonmee explained that while the law mandates district voting, citizens must register to vote outside their province if they wish to do so.
When asked about potential improvements for future referendums or elections, Mr. Boonmee asserted the necessity of strict legal rules to ensure fairness. He suggested that the law might require amendments to facilitate better public processes.
Regarding former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn's concerns about the referendum's cost, Mr. Boonmee clarified that using separate committees for polling stations is necessary for efficient vote counting. He noted that combining the referendum with the general election was cost-effective, saving over 4 billion baht compared to separate events.
For overseas voting, Mr. Boonmee assured that early elections in some countries comply with legal requirements, as conditions vary. The overall figure of 130,000 registered overseas voters was mentioned, with overseas ballots for parliamentary elections being sent to Thailand for counting, while referendum ballots would be counted at embassies.