The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released its follow-up report on Thailand's 2026 general election, expressing disappointment with the Election Commission's (EC) performance while praising the increased voter turnout among the younger generation.
At 9:30 a.m. on 8 June 2026, at the Ibis Styles Ratchada Hotel in Bangkok, ANFREL held a discussion and presented its observation report on the general election and referendum held in February 2026 to civil society groups and the media.
Brissa Rosales, ANFREL's executive officer, explained that this report is a comparative analysis between the 2023 and 2026 general elections. The mission included 24 staff members who observed the voting process in over 31 provinces nationwide, with authorization from the Election Commission (EC).
ANFREL focused especially on seven key issues:
- The smoothness of the voting process
- Voter access to information
- The rate of spoiled ballots and respect for voters' intent
- Accessibility to vote counting locations
- The collection and announcement of vote results
- Responsiveness to public demands
- Increasing participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ groups in election management
Election analyst Amael Fier praised Thailand's election, noting a voter turnout of 71.4% and a peaceful process. Compared to ASEAN standards, this is considered excellent. Elberel Dawa, leader of the election observation mission in Thailand, added that political participation among Thai youth is relatively high and commendable.
However, some longstanding issues from the 2023 election remain unresolved, such as advance out-of-district voter registration and unclear dissemination of voter information. There were also discrepancies in vote result announcements in some districts. Additionally, the two-ballot voting system remains unclear and does not meet international standards.
The most concerning issue is vote buying, for which there is no effective mechanism to detect or investigate. After counting, some provinces faced disputes over the credibility of the results. The EC's response to these concerns was deeply disappointing, including lawsuits filed against 10 election observers. Another major concern is the barcode on ballots, which remains controversial due to fears it could compromise voter anonymity, violating voting secrecy.
ANFREL also issued recommendations to the EC and relevant legal authorities, as follows:
- Repeal Section 112 and amend laws to prevent lawsuits that silence citizens and the media, and withdraw charges against election observers.
- Review election regulations by removing the ban on monk voting, promote independent candidate participation, and revise ballot designs to be clearer, possibly aligning candidate list numbers with corresponding party candidates.
- Raise standards for vote counting and result compilation.
- Improve communication between the EC and the public for greater clarity.
- Increase the number of staff from marginalized groups within the organization.
- Make election data accessible for online verification.
When asked which issue should be addressed first, Brissa said the EC should prioritize improving communication, as public trust is currently declining. She suggested real-time announcement of results online. Amael added he believes Thailand has the capacity to implement real-time vote counting. He also noted that polling stations in Thailand are well-organized, not overcrowded, and that voter impersonation is low compared to other countries.
Regarding vote buying, Elberel said ANFREL closely monitors this issue but acknowledges it is very difficult to identify perpetrators. The organization's best contribution is to encourage officials to carry out their duties honestly and according to good governance principles.