Prohibited Characteristics and Actions in the 2026 Bangkok Governor and Council Elections

The Election Commission (EC) has announced the qualifications for voters in the 2026 Bangkok governor and council elections, prohibited characteristics, and forbidden actions, including a ban on selling, distributing, or serving alcohol from 6 p.m. on 27 June until 6 p.m. on election day, 28 June.

On 27 May 2026, following the Election Commission's announcement of the nomination period, for the Bangkok Governor election, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) member election, scheduled for Sunday, 28 June 2026, with candidate registration opening from 28 May through 1 June 2026.

For eligible voters, the EC has also published important information serving as a guide for voters in the 2026 Bangkok governor and council elections, covering voter qualifications, disqualifications from voting, identity verification documents, voter preparedness, and prohibited behaviors to be aware of and avoid.

Qualifications of eligible voters for Bangkok Governor and Council elections

1. Must be a Thai national; if naturalized, must have held Thai nationality for at least 5 years.
2. Must be at least 18 years old on election day.
3. Must have been registered in the electoral district's household registration continuously for at least 1 year before election day.
4. Other qualifications as stipulated by the law governing local administrative organizations.

Disqualifications prohibiting the right to vote

• Being a monk, novice, ascetic, or religious clergy.
• Currently stripped of voting rights, regardless of whether the case is final.
• Being imprisoned under a court order or lawful command.
• Mentally ill or mentally incapacitated.
• Other disqualifications as specified by the law governing local administrative organizations.

Documents accepted for identity verification when voting

• National ID card (expired cards are also accepted).
• Other government-issued or state agency-issued photo ID cards with a personal identification number (must not be expired), such as
  - Government official ID cards,
  - Driver’s licenses,
  - Passports,
  - Electronic identification documents accessible via official government applications under the Electronic Government Act, such as the ThaID app (electronic ID card), DLT QR LICENCE app (electronic driver’s license), and the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) card app (electronic disability ID).

Voter preparation for the Bangkok Governor and Council elections

1. Check the voter registration list

• At least 25 days before election day, voters can verify their registration at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration office, district offices near polling stations, or online at www.ect.go.th or via the Smart Vote application, as well asthe Civil Registration Office website of the Ministry of Interior at www.bora.dopa.go.th.
• At least 15 days before election day, voters can check the voter list documents sent to household heads or via the Ministry of Interior’s Civil Registration website,www.bora.dopa.go.th.

2. Adding or removing names from the voter list

• At least 10 days before election day (deadline 17 June 2026), if a person or a household head finds that their name is not on the voter list or that a non-resident’s name appears on their household registration, they should submit a request to the local registrar (district director) to add or remove names, providing a copy of the household registration and an ID card or other official identification.

Prohibited behaviors during the election

To ensure a fair and lawful election for Bangkok Governor and Council members, voters should be aware of and avoid the following prohibited behaviors.

• Persons without voting rights must not vote on behalf of others.
• Deliberately damaging, defacing, or invalidating ballots is forbidden.
• Non-Thai nationals are prohibited from participating in election campaigning.
• Gambling or soliciting gambling on election results is prohibited.
• Campaigning is banned from 6 p.m. the day before election day until the polls close on election day.
• Taking photos or videos of marked ballots is forbidden.
• Selling, distributing, or serving any kind of alcohol is prohibited within polling areas from 6 p.m. the day before election day until 6 p.m. on election day.
• Offering, receiving, or soliciting money, goods, or benefits in exchange for voting or abstaining is prohibited.
• Spreading false information that undermines election integrity is forbidden.
• Intentionally marking ballots to make them identifiable is prohibited.
• Removing ballots from the polling station is forbidden.
• Obstructing or delaying others from exercising their voting rights is prohibited.
• Publishing or disseminating public opinion polls related to voting is banned from 7 days before election day until the polls close.
• Providing free or subsidized transportation to voters for voting purposes, without usual fare or wage payment, is prohibited.
• Using any ballot other than the official election ballot to vote is forbidden.
• Showing a completed ballot to others is prohibited.

The EC also emphasized that violations of these prohibitions carry legal penalties. Citizens are urged to exercise their voting rights properly to ensure a fair, honest, and lawful election.