Thailand is holding a snap general election alongside a nationwide referendum on rewriting the 2017 military-era Constitution, marking a historic “three-in-one” vote.
The results will determine whether caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul remains in power and which party leads government formation.
Alongside the parliamentary election, Thai voters are deciding whether to replace the 2017 military-era Constitution, introduced after the 2014 coup. While opinion polls indicate strong public backing for a rewrite, analysts caution that approval would only begin a complex and lengthy process. Any new charter would require parliamentary drafting, support from the Senate to amend key provisions, and at least two additional referendums.
Key developments:
• Voters are electing 500 House of Representatives lawmakers from roughly 5,000 candidates.
• 400 seats are decided by constituency races, with 100 allocated through party-list proportional voting.
• The election follows the lower house dissolution in December 2025.
• Voters receive three ballots covering constituency, party-list, and constitutional referendum votes.
• Major contenders include the Bhumjaithai Party, People’s Party, and Pheu Thai Party.
The People’s Party has proposed over 200 policies, including abolishing military conscription, drafting a new democratic constitution, reforming bureaucracy and introducing state-backed small business support.
The Bhumjaithai Party has prioritised economic growth and security, pledging 3% annual growth, expanded welfare schemes, border wall construction and paid volunteer military service, while caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to protect the monarchy and oppose amendments to lèse-majesté laws.
Opinion polls suggest no party is expected to secure a majority, increasing the likelihood of coalition negotiations.
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