The Election Commission is confident that the martial law in Narathiwat Province will not affect the general election day, as incidents are confined to specific areas. It pointed out that if an emergency occurs, polling station officials have the authority to decide to relocate their units.
On 12 January 2026 at 09:30, at the Rama Gardens Hotel, Mr. Saowang Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC), spoke about the special operations unit in Narathiwat announcing enhanced security measures after continued unrest, including bombings and violence in several areas. This led to heightened control under the Martial Law Act of 1914. He said that while the EC is naturally concerned about security—since voters are involved—fortunately, the incidents are limited to small areas not frequented by large crowds. As a result, the Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) chief election held yesterday (11 Jan) proceeded smoothly.
Regarding the assessment of the situation for advance voting on 1 February and the main election on 8 February, the EC Secretary-General said they must consider whether security issues, whether in border areas or the South, might affect the election. However, since southern incidents are not as widespread or complex as border conflicts, they believe they can manage the situation. The law permits actions such as relocating polling stations within the same electoral district. They will also consider the safety and convenience of voters and might postpone voting at a single unit if needed. Should an emergency arise on election day, the polling station committee will have the authority to decide.