Nonthaburi Governor Race Loss Blamed on Low Voter Turnout

Thai Raksa Chart Party leader Nattaphong Ruangpanya blamed low voter turnout for the party's loss in the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrator election on 20 September, despite securing all eight House seats in the province. When comparing vote proportions among actual voters, the gap narrowed significantly, he said, adding the party must accept election results regardless of outcome. Nattaphong noted that during campaign stops, the party presented over 20 policy proposals aimed at political change, though the approach did not deliver the hoped-for result.

When asked whether the party's vote count had increased or decreased from the previous election, Nattaphong said the percentage margin relative to voters who participated was smaller, though he declined to attribute this solely to the large number of candidates splitting votes. He stressed that low voter participation was the clear factor, and that all political parties bear responsibility for encouraging public turnout.

Party Secretary-General Pichan Chaowapatanawong pointed out that comparing raw vote shares across elections since 2566, including the February 2569 general election and the Nonthaburi 2568 local race, the party's popularity had not declined and had even increased in proportion. However, he acknowledged that the provincial administrator race suffered from particularly low participation—35 percent in 2569 compared to 41 percent in the previous 2568 election.

Chaowapatanawong suggested voters may think differently about local and national elections. In general elections, citizens want government change and turn out in larger numbers, but local races may not register with the public, and voters may not see how a provincial administrator election affects daily life. The party must communicate better to help voters understand the relevance of local elections, he said, noting that even on the final campaign day, supporters were just learning such an election was happening.