Thailand election: What voters are deciding in the general election and referendum | Explained

Thailand woke up to a long and serious Sunday as millions stepped out to vote in an election unlike any the country has seen before. For the first time in its political history, voters are choosing a new parliament and deciding whether to rewrite the Constitution, all on the same day.

Polling stations opened at 8 am local time, according to state broadcaster Thai PBS World, and voting continued across the country under tight watch.

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A sudden election call

This vote comes after the House of Representatives was dissolved on December 12, a full year before its four-year term was meant to end. That sudden decision forced a snap general election, putting political parties into campaign mode almost overnight.

Now, more than 50 million eligible voters are deciding who will sit in Thailand’s 500-member lower house.

How the 500 seats are being decided

Voters are choosing 500 lawmakers from a crowded field of nearly 5,000 candidates.

Out of these seats:

400 lawmakers will be elected directly from local constituencies
100 seats will go to political parties based on their nationwide vote share

This mixed system means both local popularity and national party strength matter.

Three ballots, one voter

Sunday’s vote is often being called a “three-in-one” poll.

Each voter is handed three different ballots:

• Pink ballot for choosing a political party
• Green ballot for selecting a local constituency candidate
• Yellow ballot for voting on whether Thailand should rewrite its 2017 Constitution, which was drafted under military rule

This nationwide constitutional referendum is a first for Thailand and could shape the country’s political future for years.

Race for Prime Minister is wide open

The election will decide whether caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul manages to stay in power or whether a new coalition takes over.

A total of 43 political parties have nominated candidates for prime minister.

• 19 parties named the maximum three candidates
• 12 parties nominated two candidates each
• 12 parties nominated just one

The age range is striking. The oldest candidate is 90 years old showing how wide and unusual the field is.

Bangkok leads in constituencies

Bangkok, Thailand’s most populated province, has the highest number of constituencies at 33.

It is followed by:

• Nakhon Ratchasima with 16
• Khon Kaen with 11
• Ubon Ratchathani with 11

These regions are likely to play a major role in shaping the final result.

What happens after voting ends

Election authorities must announce final official results by April 9.

Once results are certified:

• The new parliament must meet within 15 days
• Lawmakers will first elect a House Speaker
• After that, the House will vote to select the next prime minister

No clear winner expected

The contest is mainly a battle between three major forces:

• Bhumjaithai Party
• People’s Party
• Pheu Thai Party

Opinion polls suggest no single party will win enough seats to rule alone. This makes coalition talks almost certain and could lead to weeks of negotiations before Thailand forms a new government.