Constitutional Court to rule on February election

Thailand's Constitutional Court is due to rule on Monday, September 28, on whether the February 8 general election was constitutional or should be declared null and void. A ruling against the election could immediately strip elected MPs and cabinet members of their current status and trigger a new nationwide poll.

Rangsiman Rome, chair of the House Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights and a People's MP, urged the public, to follow what he described as a historic ruling.

The case centres on the use of barcodes and QR codes on every ballot paper. Rome said the unprecedented markings may have compromised the legally required secrecy of voters.

A possible fresh election

If the court declares the election invalid, voters across Thailand would be called back to choose MPs again. That would be followed by the selection of the head of a post-election government and the formation of a new cabinet to replace the current administration.

The February vote gave Bhumjaithai, the core party in the governing coalition, a landslide victory. The party is described as being navigated behind the scenes by its de facto boss, Newin Chidchob, while the Bhumjaithai-led government is headed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Election commissioners could face action

Rome said an eligible voter or political party could then subsequently lodge a case with the Supreme Court through the National Anti-Corruption Commission against the Election Commission.

The commissioners could face allegations of misconduct for their role in an election rejected by the court over the disputed barcode and QR code system. They could potentially be found guilty and sentenced to prison terms, as occurred following the 2006 election.

Monday's decision will therefore determine not only whether the current MPs and ministers retain their positions, but whether Thailand must return to the polls only months after the February 8 vote.

Picture courtesy of Thai Newsroom

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27 September 2026