"Joe Chaiwat," accompanied by his family, exercised his right to vote in the Bangkok governor and council member elections. He lamented the absence of early voting, worried about low turnout, invited public participation in monitoring the vote counting this evening, and pointed to issues of local government exam fraud, calling for the entire corrupt network to be punished.
At 10:01 a.m. on 28 June 2026 GMT+7. Chaiwat Sathaworawijit, candidate for Bangkok governor from the People’s Party, arrived to cast his vote for Bangkok governor and council member (District 6, Bang Chueak Nang Subdistrict, Talat Khwan District) at Wat Pikun School, accompanied by his son and wife, arriving by electric car. The atmosphere was orderly, with relatively few voters present.
After voting, Chaiwat gave an interview stating that the atmosphere was still quiet. He regretted that local elections, including those for Bangkok governor and council members, lacked out-of-district and early voting options. This might disenfranchise many voters who need to work on Sunday or who live away from their registered districts.
Chaiwat added that low voter turnout today could affect the vote base, impacting not only himself but all candidates. He urged citizens to vote in large numbers. Polls remain open until 5 p.m. The voting process at Wat Pikun School was smooth and took less than three minutes to complete.
When asked about volunteer observers at polling stations, Chaiwat said there would be volunteers at the polling places, but their numbers might be insufficient. He called on voters and nearby residents to help watch over the vote count after polls close to ensure the counting is fair and transparent, so the results truly reflect the voice of Bangkok residents.
Regarding last-minute election rhetoric, Chaiwat said it likely would not have much impact. He noted a discrepancy between online activity and reality, pointing out widespread misinformation and organized online influence operations. He believes today's election results will best reflect the actual situation.
Chaiwat also addressed the hot topic of local civil service exam fraud, saying that the corruption at the recruitment stage means the process is not fair or just. This leads to buying positions and recouping costs later. Therefore, investigations must be thorough, and all wrongdoers must be prosecuted throughout the entire process. Otherwise, public trust in future governance cannot be maintained. .