Thailand Schedules Referendum on New Constitution for February 8, 2026
Nationwide referendum on whether to begin drafting a new constitution will be held alongside general elections to gauge public support for constitutional reform
Thailand has officially set the date for a nationwide referendum on whether to begin drafting a new constitution, confirming that voters will be asked to decide on the issue on February 8, 2026, the same day as the country’s general election.
The decision was formalised in a government announcement published in the Royal Gazette and signed by caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, aligning two major democratic exercises on a single day to streamline the electoral process and maximise voter participation.
Under the referendum, voters will be presented with a straightforward question: whether they approve beginning the process to write a new constitution to replace the current charter adopted in 2017. Election authorities have clarified that this vote constitutes the first formal public step under constitutional requirements to gauge broad public support before any drafting process can proceed.
While the referendum does not immediately initiate drafting, a majority “yes” vote would pave the way for subsequent steps toward constitutional re-examination and potential reform.
The decision to hold the referendum concurrently with national elections underscores efforts by Thai authorities to manage electoral logistics efficiently and reduce costs by combining ballots for the House of Representatives and the constitutional question.
Election officials have published procedural guidance for voters, noting that after casting their parliamentary ballots, eligible voters will proceed at the same polling station to cast their referendum vote on the constitutional question.
Registration for those voting outside their home constituencies and for citizens abroad was scheduled in early January, with provisions to assist eligible voters with mobility challenges.
Observers view the February 8 referendum as a significant moment in Thailand’s democratic trajectory, offering citizens a direct voice on whether the nation should embark on revising its foundational legal framework.
The move follows legal interpretations that require public endorsement before the charter rewriting process can advance, and it will likely shape political discourse as voters prepare to engage in both parliamentary and constitutional decisions on the same day.
The decision was formalised in a government announcement published in the Royal Gazette and signed by caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, aligning two major democratic exercises on a single day to streamline the electoral process and maximise voter participation.
Under the referendum, voters will be presented with a straightforward question: whether they approve beginning the process to write a new constitution to replace the current charter adopted in 2017. Election authorities have clarified that this vote constitutes the first formal public step under constitutional requirements to gauge broad public support before any drafting process can proceed.
While the referendum does not immediately initiate drafting, a majority “yes” vote would pave the way for subsequent steps toward constitutional re-examination and potential reform.
The decision to hold the referendum concurrently with national elections underscores efforts by Thai authorities to manage electoral logistics efficiently and reduce costs by combining ballots for the House of Representatives and the constitutional question.
Election officials have published procedural guidance for voters, noting that after casting their parliamentary ballots, eligible voters will proceed at the same polling station to cast their referendum vote on the constitutional question.
Registration for those voting outside their home constituencies and for citizens abroad was scheduled in early January, with provisions to assist eligible voters with mobility challenges.
Observers view the February 8 referendum as a significant moment in Thailand’s democratic trajectory, offering citizens a direct voice on whether the nation should embark on revising its foundational legal framework.
The move follows legal interpretations that require public endorsement before the charter rewriting process can advance, and it will likely shape political discourse as voters prepare to engage in both parliamentary and constitutional decisions on the same day.
