How to Correctly Mark Ballots in the 2026 Election: Proper Marking for Valid Vote Counting

How to mark ballots correctly in the 2026 election. This is important information to know because elections are a key milestone for Thai citizens in exercisingtheir rights.Under the democratic system, besides electing representatives to the parliament, there will also be a referendum held concurrently on 8 February 2026.

Many people may still be confused about how to mark the three 2026 election ballots. How each ballot differs and how to mark them correctly to avoid losing votes, especially regarding the terms " valid ballot" and " spoiled ballot" which directly affect vote counting. Thairath Online summarizes the correct way to mark ballots in the 2026 election. Here is the summary.

Summary of 2026 election ballots: early voting, general election, and referendum — how many ballots in total?

Eligiblevoters participating in both the election and referendum on 8 February 2026 will receive three ballots, consisting ofthe following:

• Green ballot : used to elect members of the House of Representatives (MPs) by constituency.
• Pink ballot : used to elect members of the House of Representatives (MPs) by party-list.
• Yellow ballot : used for the referendum (only on 8 February 2026).

For those who registered for early voting on 1 February 2026, they will receive only two ballots for the MPs election. They must vote again on 8 February 2026 to exercise their rights in the referendum.

How to mark ballots correctly in the 2026 election, proper marking, and understanding valid and spoiled ballots.

Correct ballot marking in the 2026 election. Understanding how to mark ballots correctly in the 2026 election is important to know before entering the voting booth, including on early voting day (1 Feb 2026), general election day (8 Feb 2026), and referendum day (8 Feb 2026), so that you can mark correctly; otherwise, your ballot may be spoiled. Here are the criteria for valid and spoiled ballots.

What is a "valid ballot" in the 2026 election and how should it be marked?

The ballots for MPs and the referendum will be counted as valid ballots when the marking is done correctly according to the law.

• The key point is that the mark must be a cross (X) clearly inside the designated box, with only one box marked per ballot. Selecting more than one number or multiple boxes on the same ballot is prohibited.
• If you do not wish to vote for a constituency or party-list MP candidate, you may mark a cross (X) in the 'No Vote' box, and the ballot will still be counted as valid.
• For the referendum ballot, if you do not want to express an opinion, you should mark a cross (X) in the 'No Opinion' box to keep the ballot valid.

What counts as a "spoiled ballot" in the 2026 election? Which markings lead to votes not being counted?

A ballot will be considered spoiled and will not be counted if it is marked incorrectly in any of the following ways:

• Using symbols other than a cross (X).
• Marking more than one number or more than one box.
• Marking the same box multiple times.
• Leaving the ballot blank or marking no boxes.
• Marking outside the designated box or frame.
• Voting for a candidate who has been withdrawn from the election.
• Marking both a candidate and the 'No Candidate' option.

Summary: How to mark your ballot correctly. For the 2026 election ballots, use only a single cross (X) in one box per ballot to ensure your vote counts. If you do not wish to vote for anyone or express an opinion, mark the specially provided box. Always check your ballot carefully before placing it in the box, as a single incorrect mark can spoil it immediately. Read related articles

How many ballots are there in the 2026 election? What colors should you mark? With ballot image examples.

• What you need to know on election day 2026: what color pen to use and whether you need to bring your own pen.