ECT Reminds Voters of Key Precautions Ahead of the By-election for
Udon Thani Constituency 3 on Sunday, 30 August 2026

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        The Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) wishes to publicise important precautions for eligible voters in the by-election for a Member of the House of Representatives in Udon Thani, Constituency 3. The constituency comprises of Phen District, Sang Khom District, and Ban Khao Subdistrict of Mueang Udon Thani District. The by-election will take place on Sunday, 30 August 2026. To ensure that voting is conducted in an orderly, honest, transparent, impartial, and fair manner, voters and the public are advised of the following provisions.

          The following are offences under the Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives B.E. 2561 (2018), and its amendment:

          1. No person may sell, distribute, provide, or serve alcoholic beverages of any kind within the constituency from 6.00 p.m. on the day before the election, Saturday, 29 August 2026, until 6.00 p.m. on election day, Sunday, 30 August 2026.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to THB 10,000, or both.

          2. No person may gamble or organise gambling or betting of any kind relating to the election results.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment from one to five years, a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 100,000, or both. The court shall also revoke the voting rights of the gambler for 10 years and revoke the right of the organiser to stand for election.

          3. No person may disclose or publish the results of public-opinion polls relating to voting during the seven days before election day until the close of voting, from 23 August 2026 until 5.00 p.m. on 30 August 2026.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment for up to three months, a fine of up to THB 6,000, or both.

          4. No candidate may provide vehicles to take eligible voters to or from polling stations, or otherwise arrange transportation for voters to cast their ballots without requiring payment of the normal fare or fee.

          No person may act to induce or control an eligible voter to vote for, or not vote for, any candidate.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment from one to 10 years, a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 200,000, or both. The court shall also revoke the offender’s voting rights for 20 years.

          Government agencies that arrange transport to facilitate voters’ travel must notify the Provincial Election Director before taking such action.

          Voting-Related Offences

          1. No person who knows that they are ineligible to vote, or ineligible to vote at a particular polling station, may attempt to vote or vote by presenting another person’s national identification card or other document, or a forged document, to polling-station officials.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment from one to 10 years, a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 200,000, or both. The court shall also revoke the offender’s voting rights for 20 years.

          2. No person may, without lawful authority, prevent an eligible voter from exercising their right to vote, obstruct or delay a voter from going to a polling station, or prevent a voter from arriving at the polling station within the designated voting period.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment from one to five years, a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 100,000, or both. The court shall also revoke the offender’s voting rights for 10 years.

          3. A supervisor or employer must not obstruct, delay, or fail to provide reasonable facilitation for a subordinate or employee to exercise their voting rights.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to THB 40,000, or both.

          4. No eligible voter may demand, accept, or agree to accept money, property, or any other benefit for themselves or another person in exchange for voting or not voting.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment from one to five years, a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 100,000, or both. The court shall also revoke the offender’s voting rights for 10 years.

          Ballot-Related Offences

          1. No eligible voter may use a ballot paper other than the official ballot issued by an authorised election official for voting.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment from one to 10 years, a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 200,000, and revocation of voting rights for 20 years.

          2. No eligible voter may remove a ballot paper from the polling station. No person may intentionally place any mark or identifier on a ballot paper.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment from one to five years, a fine of THB 20,000 to THB 100,000, or both. The court shall also revoke the offender’s voting rights for 10 years.

          3. No person may intentionally damage a ballot paper, cause it to become invalid, or alter an invalid ballot paper so that it becomes valid.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to THB 100,000, and revocation of voting rights for 10 years.

          4. No eligible voter may use any instrument or device to photograph a ballot paper after casting their vote.

          No voter may show their completed ballot paper to another person in order to reveal how they voted.

          Violation is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to THB 20,000, or both.

          The Office of the Election Commission invites eligible voters to the by-election for Udon Thani Constituency 3 to exercise their right to vote on Sunday, 30 August 2026, from 08.00 to 17.00 hours, at the polling station where their names are registered.

          For further information, please visit the website of the Office of the Election Commission at www.ect.go.th, contact the Provincial Office of the Election Commission of Udon Thani at 0 4221 1116–7, or contact the Election Commission Hotline at 1444.

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