Thailand Confirms All Overseas Ballots Have Arrived as Vote Counting Nears
Foreign Ministry secures completed diplomatic pouches and election authorities prepare to begin counting in final 48-hour phase
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that all diplomatic pouches containing ballots cast by Thai citizens living abroad have successfully arrived in the kingdom, marking a key milestone in the national electoral process.
Officials said the completed delivery of overseas ballots allows the country to enter the final phase of counting as scheduled on election night.
Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, briefed on the integrity and logistics of the overseas voting operation, noting that the sorting of all returned ballots was completed in the early afternoon before being handed over to Thailand Post for secure distribution to counting centres nationwide.
The process is being conducted in close coordination with the Election Commission of Thailand to ensure accuracy and compliance with legal obligations.
Officials also highlighted unusually strong engagement from the Thai diaspora, with nearly ninety-percent turnout reported in some regions such as Australia and the United States, reflecting heightened civic participation compared with previous elections.
A total of 95,975 overseas ballots had been received from citizens abroad for both parliamentary and referendum voting, a figure that election authorities have described as a positive indicator of global Thai engagement in the democratic process.
With all diplomatic pouches secured on Thai soil, comprehensive transparency measures have been put in place.
Members of the public, including expatriate communities, were invited to observe elements of the counting process at Thai embassies and consulates, and some diplomatic missions also broadcast the proceedings live via digital platforms.
Under a strict legal mandate, the counting of overseas votes will begin after 5 p.m. on the evening of the main election and must be completed within 48 hours to meet national electoral deadlines.
Officials said the completed delivery of overseas ballots allows the country to enter the final phase of counting as scheduled on election night.
Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, briefed on the integrity and logistics of the overseas voting operation, noting that the sorting of all returned ballots was completed in the early afternoon before being handed over to Thailand Post for secure distribution to counting centres nationwide.
The process is being conducted in close coordination with the Election Commission of Thailand to ensure accuracy and compliance with legal obligations.
Officials also highlighted unusually strong engagement from the Thai diaspora, with nearly ninety-percent turnout reported in some regions such as Australia and the United States, reflecting heightened civic participation compared with previous elections.
A total of 95,975 overseas ballots had been received from citizens abroad for both parliamentary and referendum voting, a figure that election authorities have described as a positive indicator of global Thai engagement in the democratic process.
With all diplomatic pouches secured on Thai soil, comprehensive transparency measures have been put in place.
Members of the public, including expatriate communities, were invited to observe elements of the counting process at Thai embassies and consulates, and some diplomatic missions also broadcast the proceedings live via digital platforms.
Under a strict legal mandate, the counting of overseas votes will begin after 5 p.m. on the evening of the main election and must be completed within 48 hours to meet national electoral deadlines.
