Social Security Board Election Rescheduled to October 11 Amid Floods
Thailand's Social Security Board election has been moved from September 27 to October 11 due to widespread flooding. The Social Security Office says it has prepared 5,233 polling units across 928 districts to serve over 12 million eligible voters, but final decisions on any station relocations depend on weather and flood conditions on election day.
Officials say they are ready for the Social Security Board election on October 11, after the Election Commission postponed the vote from September 27 due to flooding in many areas. The Social Security Office has been conducting final preparations, training staff at 5,233 polling units covering 928 districts nationwide to accommodate over 12 million eligible voters.
Niyanida Saneeyamonmai, deputy secretary-general and spokesperson for the Social Security Office, said overall preparations are complete, with provincial offices having conducted additional training for polling staff. She noted that if any staff members encounter problems or cannot work on election day, replacements can be arranged.
When asked whether any polling units still need adjustments, Niyanida said details are still being gathered from local offices, and a final picture will emerge after a meeting of the Election Commission. Regarding polling stations that may need to be relocated because of flood damage, she said the exact number cannot yet be confirmed as relevant agencies are still compiling data; any necessary changes will be made following proper procedures once the information is complete.
She added that the total number of polling units is expected to remain at 5,233, with at least one station per district, to serve the 12 million voters. While the Social Security Office is prepared to run the election on October 11, she cautioned that weather conditions and on-the-ground situations on election day cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Contingency plans depend on proposals from relevant agencies to the Election Commission if flooding persists on the day of the vote. Authority to decide on polling station locations lies with provincial election committees, not solely the central Election Commission.
