The Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) hereby announces the resolutions adopted by the Election Commission at its 63/2026 meeting, held on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, and its 79/2026 meeting, held on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, concerning the consideration of criminal proceedings against candidates for election as members of the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) Council and Chief Executives of the PAO, pursuant to Section 120 of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019), as amended.

The Election Commission resolved to initiate criminal proceedings against 99 candidates for election as members of the PAO Council and Chief Executives of the PAO. (None of the individuals currently holds office.) The candidates are alleged to have committed an offence by applying to stand for election while knowingly lacking the qualifications or possessing characteristics prohibited under Section 120 of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019), as amended, and as proposed by the Office of the Election Commission.

Section 120 stipulates that any person who, knowing that he is disqualified or is under prohibitions from candidacy in an election, applies for candidacy in an election shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 1 year to 10 years and to a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 Baht and the Court shall order revocation of such person’s right to vote for a term of 20 years.

For further news and information on election laws, please visit the Office of the Election Commission’s website at www.ect.go.th, or call the 1444 hotline.