Insights into political party policies and election procedures have become top search terms, with 'referendum' emerging as a new search term experiencing a sharp rise in interest ahead of the 8 February voting day.
Google Trends revealed the search behavior of Thai people in the final stretch before the 2026 election, finding that the public is highly politically engaged, especially in preparing to exercise their voting rights. The most notable data is the surge in searches for the term “out-of-district voting” which soared by 870% compared to the same period during the previous election. This reflects how voters living outside their home constituencies are placing great importance on their preparations.
Additionally, related searches for “election methods and procedures” also increased by 60%, showing attention to practical details to ensure correct voting and reduce errors on the actual election day, Sunday, 8 February.
Regarding interest in political innovations, the term “referendum” has become a breakout search term, gaining rapid and significant attention as Thais closely follow it alongside the parliamentary election.
In the policy category, the public is intensely searching for in-depth information by party, especially policies from the Prachachon Party, Pheu Thai Party, and Bhumjaithai Party, as well as connections to key ministries such as the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education. This indicates that information consumers in 2026 are focusing not only on individuals but also on plans that will impact future quality of life.
Practical issues continuously searched include checking voter eligibility for 2026, locating polling stations both in and out of districts, and legal questions close to home, such as using expired ID cards or other documents in place of an ID card for identity verification. There is also notable concern about early voting rights and a significant rise in online registration. In the political party category, there is movement in verifying party membership and seeking information on new parties like the Kla Party, which has become a major focus over the past year.
Overall, these search trends demonstrate that the 2026 election is one where the public is using technology as a primary tool for decision-making—from verifying candidate lists and studying sample ballot formats to deeply understanding election commission regulations. This digital political transition underscores the critical importance of information in shaping the country's direction this election cycle.