The Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (OECT) has disclosed the resolution of the meeting of the Election Commission held on 22 September 2026 concerning Mr. Yongyut Piriyasathit, Candidate No. 1 for Mayor of Ko Pha-ngan Sub-district Municipality, who was accused of giving THB 500 to a person who was not eligible to vote in the election for Mayor of Ko Pha-ngan, while stating, “Please support No. 1, and please ask your relatives to vote for No. 1 as well.” It was also alleged that he did not spend the money received to provide money or hospitality to any person. Although the facts indicated that the recipient of the money from the accused was not an eligible voter, the Commission considered that the accused’s conduct nevertheless constituted an offence.
This determination was based on Section 65 (1) of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019), as amended up to (No. 3) B.E. 2569 (2026), which prohibits the use of property as a means of inducing eligible voters. The provision does not stipulate that property must be given exclusively to an eligible voter in order for an offence to have been committed. The term “any person” under subsection (1) means that the property may be given to any person, regardless of whether that person is eligible to vote. Furthermore, with regard to the phrase “inducing eligible voters,” the Commission considered that the intention to induce is not limited solely to the direct intention of influencing an eligible voter. It also includes indirect intention in which the person making the payment could reasonably foresee the consequences of the act.

           In other words, even where property is delivered to a particular person who is not eligible to vote in the relevant local administrative organisation, if the circumstances and nature of the act indicate that the giver could reasonably foresee that the property or benefit would subsequently be distributed to other persons who are eligible to vote in order to induce them to vote for the giver, such conduct may likewise constitute the inducement of eligible voters. Accordingly, the conduct of the accused constituted a violation of Section 65 (1) of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019), as amended up to (No. 3) B.E. 2569 (2026).

            The Election Commission resolved by majority vote to take the following actions

           1. File a petition with the Court of Appeal or the Regional Court of Appeal seeking an order to revoke Mr. Yongyut Piriyasathit’s right to stand for election or his right to vote, and to order a new election for Mayor of Ko Pha-ngan Sub-district Municipality, Surat Thani Province, in place of
Mr. Yongyut Piriyasathit, pursuant to Section 108, paragraph two, of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019), as amended up to (No. 3) B.E. 2569 (2026).

           2. Order Mr. Yongyut Piriyasathit to bear responsibility for the expenses incurred in the election that gave rise to the court proceedings, pursuant to Section 109, paragraph one, of the Election
of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019), as amended up to
(No. 3) B.E. 2569 (2026).

           3. Recommend filing a criminal complaint with the inquiry official so that criminal proceedings may be initiated against Mr. Yongyut Piriyasathit under Section 65 (1), in conjunction with Section 126, of the Election of Members of Local Assemblies or Local Administrators Act B.E. 2562 (2019),
as amended up to (No. 3) B.E. 2569 (2026).

           For further information or enquiries, please visit the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand’s website at www.ect.go.th or contact the 1444 hotline.