Advance and Overseas Voting Surges Among Thais Ahead of Feb Election, Referendum

More than 1.5 million Thais have already committed to casting their ballots before election day—whether from another province or an embassy half a world away—underscoring the unusually high stakes of the 8 February vote and its companion referendum on a new charter. The Election Commission (EC) still has a few hours left before the registration window slams shut at midnight tonight, but turnout has already smashed previous records.

Fast facts at a glance

• 1,531,729 applications for early or overseas voting logged as of 4 January

• 105,816 are Thai citizens living abroad who will vote at consulates or by post

• 620,476 have separately signed up to cast the referendum ballot outside their home district or overseas

• Voters can reverse an early-ballot request online until 1 February if they decide to show up on polling day instead

A registration rush unlike any in recent memory

Numbers released over the weekend show a late-December surge that dwarfed initial expectations. By New Year’s Day, the EC had counted 937,061 applicants. Three days later that figure had ballooned to 1.53 M, powered mostly by 1.42 M out-of-province voters who prefer to stay put rather than travel back to their hometowns. Only 5,063 people opted for advance voting inside their own constituencies—evidence, analysts say, of Thailand’s increasingly urban and mobile workforce.

Election law expert Assoc. Prof. Wichan Srisukkho notes that the last national poll in 2023 attracted just under 1 M early voters by the end of the sign-up window. “We are witnessing a behavioural shift,” he told the Bangkok Post. “Digital registration and the perception that every vote will count this time—without appointed senators in the mix—are powerful motivators.”

Why so many people are signing up early

Several forces appear to be converging:

Senate no longer selecting the PM. For the first time since the 2014 coup, only elected MPs will determine who forms the next government, restoring full weight to each ballot.

24-hour online platform. The EC’s revamped portal accepted log-ins from both smartphones and computers, letting citizens in Paris or Phayao sign up in minutes.

Twin ballots, one trip. Because the constitutional referendum happens the same day, many voters want to make sure they can participate in both decisions—even if they are hundreds of kilometres from their household registration.

Intense outreach. Civil-society groups, TikTok influencers and even ride-hailing apps have flooded timelines with reminders to register.

Political scientist Dr. Krittinee Charoensap warns, however, that the popularity of advance voting can also create loopholes for vote-buying or forged ID cards in some swing provinces. “Oversight will be crucial,” she said.

Changing your mind: the online back-out button

Anyone who discovers they need to be home on 8 February—or who simply prefers the excitement of election-day queues—can reverse course. The EC’s cancellation tool at https://boraservices.bora.dopa.go.th/election/ is live until 1 February. Officials stress that:

• a single click nullifies your early-vote booking and reassigns you to your neighbourhood booth;

• the system only allows one change, so double-check travel plans first;

• skipping an early vote without cancelling or later filing a valid reason could lead to temporary restrictions on future candidacy or political appointments.

What the ballot papers will look like

Voters will receive up to three slips on 8 February:

• a light-purple sheet for their constituency MP;

• a yellow sheet for the party-list race;

• and a separate white referendum paper asking whether Thailand should draft a brand-new constitution.

Those who already booked an early vote will still get the two MP ballots, but they must register again—under a different legal mechanism—if they want to weigh in on the charter question from outside their district.

The bigger picture for residents of Thailand

For people living in Thailand—citizens and long-term expatriates alike—the upcoming fortnight will shape not just the next government but also the framework under which future governments operate. 1.5 M early applicants signal an electorate that refuses to sit idle. Whether you plan to mail your ballot from Melbourne, queue at CentralWorld on advance-voting Sunday, or show up at your village school on the big day, the choices you mark will reverberate far beyond 2026.

Key takeaway: If you still need to register, move fast; the portal closes at midnight. If you’re already in the system, double-check your slot, keep your passport or ID handy, and brace for what could be the most consequential polling day in a generation.