Thai Election Commission Debates Ballot Reprinting for Three Polling Units

BANGKOK — On 17 February 2026, Thailand's Election Commission (EC) held intense discussions about reprinting ballot papers for new voting in three polling units scheduled for 22 February 2026. The meeting continued deliberations from the previous day, focusing on ballot paper details for three specific constituencies: one in Bangkok, one in Nan province, and one in Udon Thani province. The commissioners are still undecided about whether the reprinted ballots will maintain the same format as the 8 February general election, including serial numbers, ballot numbers, and barcodes. Concerns were raised about potential legal challenges regarding ballot paper differences, which could complicate ongoing legal disputes about ballot printing. The EC has also decided to shift from press conferences to written statements and is addressing inquiries from the Personal Data Protection Committee and the ombudsman's office regarding ballot identification concerns.