Thailand commenced its highly anticipated general election today at 8:00 AM local time, marking a critical juncture in the nation’s prolonged political landscape. The electoral process, unfolding across 99,538 polling stations nationwide, will determine the country’s next prime minister and governing administration for the subsequent four-year term.
With approximately 52.9 million eligible voters participating, substantial security measures have been implemented, including the deployment of over 126,000 police officers to ensure electoral integrity. The political arena features fierce competition among 57 parties fielding parliamentary candidates, while 43 parties have put forward 93 individuals vying for the prime ministerial position.
Key contenders in this electoral contest include Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party, the progressive People’s Party led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, and the Shinawatra family-backed Pheu Thai party, according to pre-election polling data.
This election operates under a significantly transformed electoral system implemented in 2021, which enables qualified individuals without traditional political backing to secure parliamentary positions through party affiliations. Voters receive two ballot papers—one for selecting constituency members of parliament and another for choosing their preferred governing party—departing from the mixed-member proportional representation system used in the 2019 elections.
The House of Representatives will comprise 500 members, with 400 elected from constituencies and 100 selected from party lists. Additionally, voters will consider a constitutional referendum regarding the potential creation of a new constitution through a separate yellow ballot form.
A pivotal constitutional change eliminates Senate participation in prime ministerial selection, requiring the successful candidate to secure an absolute majority of at least 251 votes from the House of Representatives alone.