What Rights Could You Lose If You Dont Vote in the 2026 Election? Up to Six Rights May Be Forfeited
2026 Election: Voters are warned that if they fail to exercise their voting rights and do not report a valid reason for absence, they may lose up to six rights and could face political restrictions for up to two years.
On 28 Jan 2026, after the election campaign period began, the Election Commission (EC) announced 1 Feb 2026 as the advance voting day and 8 Feb 2026 as the general election day. If a voter does not vote and fails to notify a valid reason by the deadline, they may face political restrictions for two years starting from that election day. The rights lost include:
If you do not vote, you could lose six rights.
- The right to file election complaints regarding Members of Parliament elections.
- The right to run for election at national and local levels (MPs, Senators, local council members, or local executives).
- The right to run for village headman or village chief.
- Prohibition from holding positions as political officials or parliamentary political officers.
- Prohibition from holding positions in local administrative organizations, such as deputy local executives, secretaries or advisors to local executives, or secretaries to local council chairpersons.
- The right to initiate petitions to recall local council members or local executives.
However, if a new election is held later and the voter participates, any previously imposed political restrictions will be lifted and their rights restored.
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