The Election Commission (EC) has resolved to request the Supreme Court to order the removal of 28 parliamentary candidates. They were found to be under voting restrictions because they did not participate in the election and failed to notify the reasons for not exercising their voting rights. The EC revealed that party leaders are responsible as they signed to endorse the candidates' nominations.
At 5:30 p.m. on 3 February 2026, at the Office of the Election Commission, it was reported that The Election Commission (EC) meeting resolved, following the EC office's proposal, to request the Supreme Court to order the removal of 28 parliamentary candidates from various political parties. This decision was made after discovering that these candidates were under voting restrictions because they did not participate in the election and did not notify the reasons for their absence. According to Section 35 (2) of the Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives B.E. 2561 (2018), the EC office is currently expediting drafting the ruling before the district election directors file petitions with the Supreme Court.
Under the law, If the petition is submitted to the Supreme Court but the court does not order the removal before election day, the 28 candidates will still be considered official candidates. If elected, the EC will not certify their election results and will order a new election.
However, in this case, The EC is preparing to consider prosecuting the candidates for knowingly running without eligibility under Section 151, which carries penalties of 1 to 10 years imprisonment, fines ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 baht, and a 20-year suspension of voting rights. Meanwhile, party leaders will be held responsible for certifying the nomination of these candidates. According to Section 56 of the Organic Act on Political Parties B.E. 2560 (2017), penalties apply under Section 120, which include imprisonment of up to 5 years, fines up to 100,000 baht, or both, and a voting rights suspension for 5 years ordered by the court.