Election Commission gears up for three high-profile polls

Bangkok voters to choose governor and councillors, Pattaya to select mayor on June 28

The Election Commission (EC) says it is ready to hold simultaneous local elections for the Bangkok governor, Bangkok Metropolitan Council members and the Pattaya mayor on June 28.

EC offices in Bangkok and Chon Buri have begun planning for the polls and are not facing any major concerns, secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said on Wednesday.

Lessons learned from the Feb 8 general election are being applied to improve efficiency, forming a new election model, he said.

One initiative is the introduction of professionally trained polling station committees to minimise errors and improve public trust. Selected personnel will undergo intensive training and may receive certification.

Additional measures will also be introduced to better protect committee members and reduce public pressure on their roles.

Bangkok will have 50 constituencies and 6,632 polling stations — an increase of 102 from the Feb 8 general election. Recruitment of local poll committee members is ongoing and pending EC approval, said Sub-Lt Samphan Saengkamlerd, director of the Bangkok EC office.

The terms of the Bangkok governor and council members will expire on May 21 but the law allows the governor to remain in a caretaker role.

Incumbent governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who won the 2022 election by a landslide, has yet to confirm whether he will seek another term.

The EC is also continuing voter education efforts, particularly on campaign restrictions, which have been communicated since Nov 21 last year — 180 days before the end of the current term.

Based on the 70% turnout in the February general election, the EC is targeting a 75% turnout for the upcoming municipal polls, citing typically higher public interest in local contests.

Despite past criticism of polling centre staff performance, Mr Samphan expressed confidence in their continued participation, noting that many have years of experience and understand the pressures involved.

Teachers and educators, who form a significant portion of polling station committee members, remain willing to serve, he said.