The Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization chief election closed at 5 p.m., with officials starting vote counting and awaiting unofficial results tonight.
At 5:00 p.m. on 27 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the polling stations officially closed. The election for Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization chief (Khon Kaen PAO chief) was conducted. The process concluded smoothly after polling stations opened for Khon Kaen residents from 8:00 a.m., closing at 5:00 p.m., with officials immediately beginning to count the votes.
The candidates for Khon Kaen PAO chief are as follows:
Candidate number 1: Mr. Wathana Changlao.
Candidate number 2: Mr. Pongsak Tangwanichkaphong.
Candidate number 3: Mr. Sakda Silpadonbom.
Candidate number 4: Mr. Pongnirun Uthaikarnkul.
A reporter noted that at polling station 57, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen District, within Khon Kaen Municipality, in the last 30 minutes before polls closed, voters continued to arrive despite intermittent rain throughout the day. This station had 645 registered voters, with 167 casting ballots, representing 25.89%, a decrease from the previous election where over 300 voted.
After closing, the polling station committee took about 20 minutes to count votes. The unofficial results at station 57 showed candidate number 2, Mr. Pongsak Tangwanichkaphong, received 51 votes; number 1, Mr. Wathana Changlao, 46 votes; number 3, Mr. Sakda Silpadonbom, 22 votes; and number 4, Mr. Pongnirun Uthaikarnkul, 7 votes. There were 37 abstentions and 4 invalid ballots.
Outside the city center at polling station 4, electoral zone 1, Ban Bueng Chim, Bueng Niam Subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen District, despite heavy rain in the afternoon, voters continued arriving until near closing. The committee prepared battery-powered lighting to handle possible power outages during counting. At polling station 13, Ban Khok Si, Khok Si Subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen District, there were 650 registered voters, with about 400 voting. Overall, about 1.44 million voters are registered across Khon Kaen province for this election.
This election was a re-run ordered by the Fourth Appeals Court due to allegations that candidate number 1 distributed money to voters. After reviewing evidence, the court mandated a new election. Once counting is complete, polling station committees will submit results for compilation to provide unofficial overall results for the province.
However, it is expected to take some time before unofficial results show which candidate leads. Updates will be reported accordingly. Official certification by the Election Commission will follow in due course.