The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) summarized the closure of ballot boxes in Bangkok and Pattaya with no complaints received, hoping for an early announcement of results. They warned those who did not vote to promptly notify their reasons by 5 July 2026 and acknowledged the significant challenge of raising public awareness to encourage voter participation.
At 17:30 on 28 June 2026, at the Election Commission's office, Acting Lt. Phaskorn Siripakya-pon, Deputy Secretary-General of the ECT, reported on the overall local elections in Bangkok and Pattaya. Reports from the Bangkok Election Office and Chonburi Provincial Election Office indicated that all 6,628 polling stations in Bangkok and 113 in Pattaya had closed after voting ended. The overall situation was orderly. Since voting started at 09:00, an incident occurred involving a fire at Soi Chaengwatthana 10, but no polling stations were nearby, so it did not affect voting. At 10:55, wind caused a campaign sign to fall on voters in Bang Kapi district, causing minor injuries; first aid was provided and the injured were safely sent to hospital. The director of Wat Sriboonruen School, Bang Kapi district director, and police inspector of Huamark Police Station visited the injured. At 15:00, officials monitored storm conditions to assess impact on elections, which affected polling stations 28-31 in Lat Krabang district; however, voting proceeded smoothly and concluded by 17:00. Counting is currently underway for all polling stations in Bangkok and Pattaya.
The ECT Deputy Secretary-General further clarified that some MPs and citizens may misunderstand voter eligibility. According to Section 38 of the Local Administrators and Local Council Members Act, eligible voters for both the Bangkok governor and council members must have their names registered in the household registry within the electoral district continuously for at least one year up to election day.
"Therefore, anyone whose name appears in the household registry in a Bangkok electoral district continuously for more than one year has the right to vote and receive both types of ballots. However, those who have moved their household registration within Bangkok from one district to another less than one year before the election can only vote for the governor, not the council member of the new district. In such cases, the law allows them to apply to add their name at the last registered address where they lived continuously for over a year, but this request must be made to the local registrar at least 10 days before the election." .
Acting Lt. Phaskorn added that citizens are invited to observe the vote counting at all polling stations in Bangkok and Pattaya. If any irregularities or violations of election regulations are suspected, objections can be raised to the Bangkok Election Office to assist the ECT's investigation. Meanwhile, unofficial vote counts can be followed on the Bangkok and Pattaya official websites. Regarding the official announcement of results, the law states that if no complaints or objections arise, the ECT will declare results within 30 days after election day. If there are complaints, a re-election or other processes may be ordered, with results announced no later than 60 days after the election.
Acting Lt. Phaskorn also urged voters who did not participate in the election to report valid reasons for their absence between 28 June and 5 July 2026. This can be done via the Smart Vote app, the Department of Provincial Administration's website, in person or by proxy to the district or local registrar, or by mail to the local registrar. Failure to report a valid reason will result in a two-year restriction on political rights.
When asked whether voters who only voted for the Bangkok governor but not for council members would cause ballot issues, Acting Lt. Phaskorn said the ECT has emphasized strict controls for those eligible to vote only in one category. Polling officials will distribute only one ballot accordingly, making such ballot discrepancies very unlikely. If discrepancies occur, the ECT will review whether a re-election is necessary. If vote counts do not match voter numbers or if counting is improper, appropriate actions such as re-voting or recounting will be considered based on the facts.
Asked whether the vote counting results by polling officials should be closely monitored, the ECT Deputy Secretary-General encouraged the public to verify that counting procedures are conducted correctly to ensure acceptance by all parties. Observers who notice discrepancies between votes and tally marks or disagree with officials' decisions can immediately raise objections with the officials, who will issue objection documents. These documents can then be submitted to the ECT if there are concerns about fairness, providing rapid information for the ECT's review.
Regarding concerns that heavy storms might damage ballots, Acting Lt. Phaskorn stated that initial inspections found ballots at all polling stations to be intact. If counting cannot be completed or has only partially begun, the law allows polling officials to announce suspension of counting, after which the provincial election director will order a re-count within three days. Should voting procedures be disrupted, the process will reset to ensure accurate counting. He reassured that control and storage procedures are conducted in accordance with legal requirements.
When asked about the case of Mr. Nattapong Rueangpanyawut, head of the People's Party, whose father was not listed at the polling station, Acting Lt. Phaskorn clarified to prevent misunderstandings. Voter verification involves checking the voter list, household notification letters indicating the assigned polling station, and verification via the Smart Vote app or Department of Provincial Administration website. In this case, if there was a change in house number or household registration, the assigned polling station may differ from the current one due to registry updates. This may cause confusion but the process was proper; only the address and house number changed.
Asked whether the ECT would review publicity efforts if voter turnout is lower than previous elections, the Deputy Secretary-General expressed concern. The ECT hopes to promote campaigns and has asked Bangkok and Pattaya authorities to assist with publicity. However, public interest and awareness of the importance of electing representatives to manage significant budgets remain key challenges. The ECT can encourage participation, but raising public awareness depends on the citizens themselves. So far, no complaints have been reported regarding the Bangkok and Pattaya elections. The ECT emphasizes transparency and acceptance of the election process by all parties.
Click to follow Thairath's unofficial vote count coverage.https://www.thairath.co.th/bkkelection69