Subdistrict Administrative Organization Elections on 11 Jan 2026: How Many Ballots to Cast and How to Report Absence

The upcoming election for members and chiefs of the Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) on Sunday, 11 January 2026, is a nationwide regular term-end election. Details on election management and legal implications are as follows: Tags: election, Subdistrict Administrative Organization, legal consequences

1. Election procedure (voting steps) Tags: election procedure, voting steps

The main steps for voting on 11 January 2026 are as follows: Tags: voting process, election day

• Voting hours: from 08:00 to 17:00.Tags: voting hours, election timing

• Required identification: national ID card (expired cards are acceptable) or government-issued photo ID containing an ID number (such as a driver's license or passport), or via the ThaID application.Tags: voter identification, ID requirements

• Number of ballots: generally, you will receive 2 ballots.Tags: ballots, voting materials

  1. Pink ballot: for electing the "SAO chief" (choose only one candidate).Tags: pink ballot, SAO chief election

  2. Green ballot: for electing "SAO council members" (select as many as allowed by the district, up to 6 candidates).Tags: green ballot, SAO council election

2. Legal consequences of not votingTags: legal consequences, non-voting

If you have the right to vote but do not participate and fail to notify a valid reason, you will face a 2-year political rights suspension from the election day, with the following effects:Tags: political rights, voting penalty

• At the national and local political level: * You cannot run for election as a Member of Parliament, Senator, local council member, or local executive.Tags: political restrictions, candidacy ban

  • You are also ineligible to run for village headman or subdistrict headman.Tags: political restrictions, local leadership

3. Long-term impactTags: long-term consequences

Although the suspension lasts only 2 years, if another election (e.g., parliamentary or other local elections) occurs during this period, you will lose the opportunity to enter politics or hold important local positions immediately. It also reflects on your civic participation record in government databases.Tags: political career impact, voter record

4. Reporting a valid reason for absenceTags: absence reporting, voter rights

If you have a legitimate reason, you can notify authorities to preserve your rights as follows:Tags: notification process, valid absence

• Notification period: 7 days before the election (4-10 January 2026) or 7 days after the election (12-18 January 2026).Tags: notification timeline, election dates

• Methods: 1. Submit in person or authorize a representative at the district office; 2. Send by registered mail; 3. Notify via the Smart Vote application or the Department of Provincial Administration website (this is the most convenient method).Tags: notification methods, voter communication