EC explains overseas voting and referendum count timeline
EC says overseas voting runs Jan 19–30; MP ballots will be shipped back for Feb 8 counting, while referendum ballots are counted abroad
- The Election Commission (EC), together with relevant agencies, has explained the steps for voting in the MP election and for casting referendum ballots for Thais overseas, who can vote between January 19–30, 2026.
- Overseas MP election ballots will be sent back to Thailand to be counted by the voter’s constituency on February 8, 2026.
- Overseas referendum ballots will be counted at embassies or consulates abroad, starting after polls close in Thailand.
- The EC says it has a transport system in place to ensure overseas MP ballots reach Thailand in time for counting.
On January 19, 2026, the Election Commission Office issued an information note explaining overseas voting for the MP election and the referendum. It said the EC Office is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand Post and the Royal Thai Police to prepare for overseas voting, with eligible voters abroad able to cast ballots between January 19 and January 30, 2026.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Department of Consular Affairs, embassies and consulates-general worldwide, as well as Thai Trade and Economic Offices, has prepared venues, personnel and facilitation measures so that Thais abroad can vote and take part in the referendum according to the method they registered for: polling stations, mobile polling units, or postal voting.
Once overseas voters have completed voting in the MP election and the referendum, the following steps will be taken:
Overseas MP election ballots will be sent back to Thailand for counting. Through cooperation between the EC Office, the Department of Consular Affairs, Thailand Post and the Royal Thai Police, the ballots will be delivered to constituency election committees across 400 constituencies (based on each voter’s registered constituency) for counting on February 8, 2026.
Overseas referendum ballots will be counted abroad at embassies and consulates-general, or other designated venues. Counting will begin once voting closes according to Thailand time—from 5.00pm on February 8, 2026—and must be completed within 48 hours.
The EC Office, the Department of Consular Affairs, Thailand Post and the Royal Thai Police said they have put in place a transport system for overseas MP election ballots to ensure they are delivered to constituency election committees in time for the count on February 8, 2026, as required by law.
The EC Office urged overseas voters to follow the procedures and timetable provided by the embassy or consulate-general in their area of residence. Further details can be obtained from embassies/consulates-general, the Election Commission Office website, or the hotline 1444.
