Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

Thailand's Election Commission (EC) is intensifying efforts to ensure a fair election on February 8 after a survey indicated that over a quarter of voters might accept cash for their votes. Allegedly, payments range from 3,000 to 7,500 baht per person. EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee has called for EC officials to actively campaign against vote-buying to maintain the election's integrity and ensure public trust.

Sawaeng stressed that the EC aims for a high voter turnout, hoping to surpass the previous election's 75%. Votes should reflect candidates' policies and qualifications, free from unlawful influences. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) highlighted increasing concerns about vote-buying, with some incidents allegedly reaching 7,500 baht per voter.

Sawaeng acknowledged the existence of vote-buying but stressed that it should not determine election outcomes. He mentioned that the EC, aware of these practices, is not seeking additional information from the JSCCIB survey, as it possesses sufficient intelligence to act. The EC relies on intelligence and field monitoring to combat these activities. Provinces are marked as red, yellow, or white zones, with red indicating fierce political rivalry.

The JSCCIB's survey involved 4,814 respondents, comprising citizens and business community representatives. Findings revealed that 42% anticipate widespread vote-buying, although 69% would reject cash offers. Bangkok and nearby provinces reported the highest rates of vote-buying at 7,500 baht per person, while other regions reported figures between 3,000 and 5,000 baht.

Among respondents, 71.9% insisted they wouldn't support candidates offering bribes, citing corruption and illegality. Meanwhile, 28.1% would vote based on personal connections, candidates' past results, influence, or financial needs.

The survey showed public desire for political parties to implement anti-corruption measures, such as transparent asset disclosures and cutting ties with unethical practices. However, many respondents doubted parties' commitment to making tangible changes, reported the Bangkok Post.

Key Takeaways

• Over 25% of surveyed voters may accept vote-buying offers, according to a report.

• The EC is actively working to mitigate these concerns before the election.

• Many voters stress the need for honest voting, rejecting corrupt practices.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2026-01-20

 

 

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Allegedly, payments range from 3,000 to 7,500 baht per person.

I think a bit misinformed... Normally the people will get 300 or sometimes 500 THB for a vote.. 3.000 to 7500 is not for common people.....

Time honored tradition here in Thailand, everybody can be bought here, from the bottom all the way to the top.

If EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee and the rest of the Thailand's Election Commission is serious about the issue (and they better be as vote buying has been rampant over decades) then there are a few simple steps.

Use social media, TV, radio and the dailies and explain the impact of vote buying and that the "gifted" eventually are paying back manyfold what they were given.
Vote buying has moved into the next category with the digital 10K handouts or the SME economy revival with 50/50 shopping under the "Khon La Krueng" programme. What needs to be made crystal clear is, that the government has no money of its own and also does not produce any money. The money in handouts, programmes or direct vote buying by attaching a coloured photograph and the party number to a bank note or two is the VOTERS money.

Bottomline for the EC is E D U C A T I O N as the uncles and aunties on the rice fields have not the slightest clue about all this (and were conveniently never updated).

Parliament voting is possible anywhere in Thailand, provided the voter preregistered a different polling station to the registered address. At the same time Thai voters are asked to approve a new constitution. The latter cannot be voted on anywhere BUT in the polling station of the registered address. In addition to this, 90% of the voters (and I am pretty kind with that assumption) will not read the constitution draft (if sent) to the voter's registered address.

Thailand has a long and stoney path to democracy; the present system shows clearly a very "Thai" solution to the interpretation - three prime ministers in two years and other funny happenings on the political merry-go-round.

As a friend of mine said years ago already; "Thais are the nicest people money can buy"; I'll leave it at that!

If in your country the those who gain the the most votes are invariably barred from government, then what would you gain by voting for your preference rather than just selling your vote?

This is not newvote buying is the norm in Thailand the promise of 10,000 baht for everyone over 16 comes to mind that’s a form of vote buying as is vote for me and you get a 500 baht

I was driving between Pak Nam Pram and Khao Tao last night at 2120 and the road was blocked with cars. I thought someone got hit by a car. When I finally got to the action there were local candidates and their reps paying off voters in the darkness of the night. We spoke to Yai today, who lives in a small moo ban in rural Surin, and she said the villager were holding out for a few more days to see who comes with the highest payout. Last year the payout was 300. They are hoping for 500. They don't see much difference in the corrupt choices so they go for the cash.

thing is vote buying doesn't guarantee that people will vote for that candidate. In my area there's always vote buying, at every level of politics. People go to a candidate's rally and accept the cash BUT still vote for their preferred candidate. They just see the vote buying as a means of receiving free cash.

In the village I lived in at Isaan, the Phu Yai Baan handled all negotiations on who the village would vote for and also the actual process of recording the votes. All very professional and honed from many previous elections.

Have to dismantle that system before people will think of voting how they think. But then again, why bother if the election winner gets barred from governing?

Thailand's Election Commission (EC) is intensifying efforts to ensure a fair election on February 8 after a survey indicated that over a quarter of voters might accept cash for their votes.

The usual 500 baht per vote or has inflation increased it this year?

No <deleted> Sherlock - been going on for decades as same as most SE Asian countries - take the the money from whatever party (usually several) then vote or don't

Similar to Minnesota Democrats and the Somali voting bloc

6 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

If EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee and the rest of the Thailand's Election Commission is serious about the issue (and they better be as vote buying has been rampant over decades) then there are a few simple steps.

Use social media, TV, radio and the dailies and explain the impact of vote buying and that the "gifted" eventually are paying back manyfold what they were given.
Vote buying has moved into the next category with the digital 10K handouts or the SME economy revival with 50/50 shopping under the "Khon La Krueng" programme. What needs to be made crystal clear is, that the government has no money of its own and also does not produce any money. The money in handouts, programmes or direct vote buying by attaching a coloured photograph and the party number to a bank note or two is the VOTERS money.

Bottomline for the EC is E D U C A T I O N as the uncles and aunties on the rice fields have not the slightest clue about all this (and were conveniently never updated).

Parliament voting is possible anywhere in Thailand, provided the voter preregistered a different polling station to the registered address. At the same time Thai voters are asked to approve a new constitution. The latter cannot be voted on anywhere BUT in the polling station of the registered address. In addition to this, 90% of the voters (and I am pretty kind with that assumption) will not read the constitution draft (if sent) to the voter's registered address.

Thailand has a long and stoney path to democracy; the present system shows clearly a very "Thai" solution to the interpretation - three prime ministers in two years and other funny happenings on the political merry-go-round.

As a friend of mine said years ago already; "Thais are the nicest people money can buy"; I'll leave it at that!

As Mark Twain said: "We have the best government money can buy"

So nothing new here.

7 hours ago, Homburg said:

Om de som får flest röster i ditt land alltid utestängs från regeringen, vad skulle du då vinna på att rösta på din preferens istället för att bara sälja din röst?

Exactly,and Why do they have election at all ?

On 1/20/2026 at 10:50 AM, ikke1959 said:

I think a bit misinformed... Normally the people will get 300 or sometimes 500 THB for a vote.. 3.000 to 7500 is not for common people.....

Thanks, very much so. During the 20 years where I lived in Lanna and Isaan, the local villagers received 300 baht per vote, even at local village elections!

My mother-in-law has learned to accept cash from every party that knocks on the door - then votes for the party she likes.

On 1/20/2026 at 10:50 AM, ikke1959 said:

I think a bit misinformed... Normally the people will get 300 or sometimes 500 THB for a vote.. 3.000 to 7500 is not for common people.....

Wouldn't be so sure about that, in-laws recently offered 1k baht and that was just for local elections, not even the big leagues next month.

Just shows how much they stand to gain if they can get their noses in the political trough....

In the recent Amphur election in our village my wife voted for the candidate who paid 700 baht into her account by bank transfer!

I asked her how does she know that you will vote for her and she said “she doesn’t, she just trusts people she has paid to vote for her “

Given that the opposing candidate was probably doing the same thing I shudder to think how much money is being lost by the loser!

That then leads to the question of what will the winner be gaining by being voted in?🤷‍♂️

"Vote-Buying Concerns Ahead of Thailand's February 8 Election"

Be a waste of money to buy votes after the election, ya think? :)

On 1/20/2026 at 10:50 AM, ikke1959 said:

I think a bit misinformed... Normally the people will get 300 or sometimes 500 THB for a vote.. 3.000 to 7500 is not for common people.....

Nope, last election 5000 thb for people in the south.

Hell, PT is stepping up their gaming, now offering the "Creating Nine Millionaires a Day" scheme if you vote for them, all taxpayer funded.

On 1/22/2026 at 1:25 PM, Issanraider said:

That then leads to the question of what will the winner be gaining by being voted in?

The prize for the winner is they get to put their snout well and truly into the corruption trough, thus recouping the money spent on vote buying, and some. 🙂