The Election Commission (EC) has announced that courts have ordered the withdrawal of 49 parliamentary candidates ahead of nationwide voting on 8 February 2026, warning voters that selecting disqualified constituency candidates will result in spoiled ballots. The decision affects 18 constituency candidates and 31 party-list candidates across multiple political parties, including several major parties. The EC urged voters to carefully check candidate lists before casting their ballots.

The announcement was made on 7 February 2026 at the Election Commission Office in Chaeng Watthana by Acting Sub-Lieutenant Phasakorn Siriphokyaporn, Deputy Secretary-General of the EC, during a briefing on preparations for the general election and a national referendum taking place on the same day. He said voting would be conducted at 99,538 polling stations nationwide, with approximately 52 million eligible voters expected to participate. Voters were reminded to bring valid identification, including a national ID card, driving licence, disability card, or official digital identification.

According to the EC, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of 18 constituency MP candidates from ballots. These include candidates from Kla Tham Party, Pheu Thai Party, Palang Pracharath Party, Prachachon Party, Democrat Party, Thai Sang Thai Party, Phalangwat Party, Phuea Ban Muang Party and Thai Kao Mai Party, across provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Ratchaburi, Phuket, Rayong, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Udon Thani. The EC stressed that any vote cast for these individuals, including advance votes already submitted, will be counted as invalid.

The court also ordered the removal of 31 party-list MP candidates from various parties, including Palang Tham Mai, Thai Kao Mai, Prachathipatai, Kla Tham, Palang Pracharath, Ruam Thai Sang Chart and others. The EC clarified that this will not affect party-list voting, as voters select parties rather than individuals, and parties are legally permitted to submit lists of up to 100 candidates.

To prevent confusion, provincial election offices have been instructed to publicly display the names of disqualified candidates at polling stations, with withdrawn names crossed out on ballots. The EC also reiterated that alcohol sales are banned nationwide from 6pm on 7 February until 6pm on election day, and that all campaigning must cease after 6pm on 7 February.

Khoasod reported that the EC confirmed that voters who registered for advance voting on 1 February but did not vote cannot cast ballots in the general election on 8 February, though they may still participate in the referendum. Voters whose advance registration was unsuccessful may vote at their registered polling stations as normal, while updated voter lists will be displayed to address visibility issues reported earlier.

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

Key Takeaways

• Courts have ordered the withdrawal of 18 constituency and 31 party-list MP candidates before the election.

• Voting for withdrawn constituency candidates will result in spoiled ballots, including advance votes.

• Party-list voting remains unaffected, and voters can still choose their preferred party.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2026-02-08

 

 

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Again last minute work in Thailand... Everything is set for the elections and suddenly changes, that will things more confused for voters than alcohol sales/buy..... And again a reason to declare these elections invalid

Thailand , the country of smiles and utter confusion for any simple matter that is of concern to the nation.

Depending on the outcome of today, there is sure to be a few more removals to ensure the correct result is achieved.

Will it be rigged yet again ?....

6 minutes ago, brian69 said:

Will it be rigged yet again ?....

I think we know the answer to that. And confusion all round is exactly what's required to achieve the appropriate outcomes.

I notice that nowhere in the news item is there a reason or reasons given for removal of candidates ...

Hopeless. Absolutely bloody hopeless. Announcing banned candidates on the eve of a national election, just as candidates, their agents, election officials and voters are settling down for a well-earned beer or lao khao on Saturday evening. And then expecting that hungover election officials will correctly delete the banned candidates names from more than 50 million ballot sheets in almost a hundred thousand polling stations on Sunday?

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

Hopeless. Absolutely bloody hopeless. Announcing banned candidates on the eve of a national election, just as candidates, their agents, election officials and voters are settling down for a well-earned beer or lao khao on Saturday evening. And then expecting that hungover election officials will correctly delete the banned candidates names from more than 50 million ballot sheets in almost a hundred thousand polling stations on Sunday?

Typical TIT.

Couldn't organise a quickie in a brothel even if it was a freeby.

Without wanting to be too critical of the Election Commission, all that can really be said is that 49 parliamentary candidates have been withdrawn ahead of today's general election.

This includes 18 constituency candidates and 31 party-list candidates across several political parties.

Conspiracy theories aside, the EC has emphasized two key points for voters:

- Constituency ballots: If a voter selects a disqualified candidate, the ballot will be considered spoiled.

- Party-list ballots: Disqualified party-list candidates do not invalidate the party itself, so voters can still select their preferred party.

According to the EC, the removals were carried out under Section 52 of the Election Act, and the Commission has urged voters to carefully review updated candidate lists before casting their ballots.

It's unfortunate that this comes on the nationwide vote, which will determine all 500 seats in the House of Representatives.

The important thing to remember is that all the major parties—including Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai, and the People’s Party—remain in contention for forming the next government.

To those Thais reading this, happy voting today!

1 hour ago, brian69 said:

Will it be rigged yet again ?....

None of the banned candidates are from PP.

Why are conspiracy theorists shouting rig again?

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The EC stressed that any vote cast for these individuals, including advance votes already submitted, will be counted as invalid.

Well, that sounds fair.

16 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

None of the banned candidates are from PP.

1. Ratchpong Sroysuwan, Tak Constituency 3, No. 6 (Prachachon Party)... อ่านข่าวต้นฉบับได้ที่ : https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2026/02/07/election-commission-warns-votes-for-disqualified-candidates-will-be-spoiled/

Well, that sounds very Democratic, 'eh?

1 hour ago, marin said:

1. Ratchpong Sroysuwan, Tak Constituency 3, No. 6 (Prachachon Party)... อ่านข่าวต้นฉบับได้ที่ : https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2026/02/07/election-commission-warns-votes-for-disqualified-candidates-will-be-spoiled/

PP is Peoples Party

3 hours ago, mfd101 said:

I think we know the answer to that. And confusion all round is exactly what's required to achieve the appropriate outcomes.

I notice that nowhere in the news item is there a reason or reasons given for removal of candidates ...

The media cannot do that in Thailand. Defamation Laws here mean they would be sued.

Here we go again - a corrupt incompetent system of Government 'asks' the People who they want to represent them in the running of the country. I think it is obvious the outcome will be a coalition Government.

IMO the best option will be Bhumjaithai as the main Party with Anutin as the PM, and People's Party as the other coalition member and Natthaphong as deputy PM.

IMO the second best option would be PP as the main Party with Natthaphong as the PM, and BJT as the other coalition member with Anutin as the Deputy PM.

As long as Phue Thai, Democrats and the Military Parties are not in Government, that will be a good thing long term.

8 minutes ago, XRules said:

Here we go again - a corrupt incompetent system of Government 'asks' the People who they want to represent them in the running of the country. I think it is obvious the outcome will be a coalition Government.

IMO the best option will be Bhumjaithai as the main Party with Anutin as the PM, and People's Party as the other coalition member and Natthaphong as deputy PM.

IMO the second best option would be PP as the main Party with Natthaphong as the PM, and BJT as the other coalition member with Anutin as the Deputy PM.

As long as Phue Thai, Democrats and the Military Parties are not in Government, that will be a good thing long term.

Any government without Prawit or the convicted Heroin dealer and charlatan in it, is a plus for everyone. The fact that anybody would vote for Thamanat Prompow or even be seen near him, scares the Hell out me, and it should the Thai people as well.

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The EC stressed that any vote cast for these individuals, including advance votes already submitted, will be counted as invalid.

That's a bit of a problem isn't it - they should order immediate by elections in these areas as many people vote early.

Elections in those areas where the margin between the end result and the number of votes cast for suspended candidates should be considered null and void.

3 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

None of the banned candidates are from PP.

Why are conspiracy theorists shouting rig again?

Because the People's Party are already dead in the water with 44 former Move Forward MP's (still) being investigated by the NACC and 24 of those are elected MP's under the People's Party banner.

"Doomed I tell ye Captain Mainwearing, doomed."

Cancelling votes of those who didn't know in advance that their candidate is null and void demands a review. It is just a way of tricking people m

35 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Any government without Prawit or the convicted Heroin dealer and charlatan in it, is a plus for everyone. The fact that anybody would vote for Thamanat Prompow or even be seen near him, scares the Hell out me, and it should the Thai people as well.

That he was allowed to be in Parliament because the offence was overseas (Australia) and not in Thailand, speaks volumes about how corrupt and incompetent the political and legal system is here in Thailand. This is not a first world country - not by a long way when the main measure used is Law and Order - which is what separates Civilised Nations from the others.

3 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

None of the banned candidates are from PP.

The EC couln't be bothered with the added work. The courts will do that later - to the whole party as usual.

1 hour ago, XRules said:

IMO the best option will be Bhumjaithai as the main Party with Anutin as the PM, and People's Party as the other coalition member and Natthaphong as deputy PM.

IMO the second best option would be PP as the main Party with Natthaphong as the PM, and BJT as the other coalition member with Anutin as the Deputy PM.

You're probably right - your "best option" avoids a military or (more likely) legal coup and has the great virtue of giving the PP & its leadership some real-world government experience, which has to be good for the longer term.

Your "second best" is OK in theory but wouldn't last longer than the few days it would take for the courts to throw them out or BJT to swap partners..

5 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

Without wanting to be too critical of the Election Commission

Be as critical as you like. They are part of the judicial arm of the establishment and will, by any means, protect the status quo of said establishment.

2 hours ago, XRules said:

IMO the second best option would be PP as the main Party with Natthaphong as the PM, and BJT as the other coalition member with Anutin as the Deputy PM.

Maybe doable to keep the meddlesome establishment and courts quiet. But in that scenario, I'd still really hope that PP has a huge minority so that, while just short of a majority, it can keep most of the high-profile cabinet positions away from BJT - but let Anutin and his networks keep their weed shops.

Alternatively, if PP has that huge just-short-of-a-majority win, it could offer an olive branch to the Dems - who don't deserve it, but if the Dems can manage 30-40 seats, it could work - let Mark be an important player - maybe a deputy PM and let them have 1 or 2 other mid-level cabinet posts - that could placate the establishment enough. But FM, Interior Minister, Finance etc., must stay with PP.

This whole faux superficial election is nothing other than a smelly steaming pile of freshly laid manure. Nothing will change, a new raft of PP politicians will be banned over frivolous and weak claims, and it will be the same old tune being played by conservative nationalist stooges of the rich elites and dinosaurs who fear change so much they will go to any lengths to keep the status quo. Pfft!

7 hours ago, Artisi said:

Typical TIT.

Couldn't organise a quickie in a brothel even if it was a freeby.

Oh I bet they could...

7 hours ago, mfd101 said:

I think we know the answer to that. And confusion all round is exactly what's required to achieve the appropriate outcomes.

I notice that nowhere in the news item is there a reason or reasons given for removal of candidates ...

Anyone else notice that one party had no deletions?

2 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Anyone else notice that one party had no deletions?

Anyone notice this has been asked and answered already?

My b/f reports how difficult it was to vote this morning, just here on the outskirts of little Prasat Surin ... main thing was trying to find on the papers the party & the individual(s) you wanted to vote for in an astonishing maze of parties & individuals.

My thought: Probably fine for individuals with high-level literacy in Thai (10%? 20%? of the population). But with limited literacy in his case and zero literacy in the case of older members of his family, making rational choices was simply impossible.

13 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Again last minute work in Thailand... Everything is set for the elections and suddenly changes, that will things more confused for voters than alcohol sales/buy..... And again a reason to declare these elections invalid

Actually that's not true. Early voting was last Sunday, so everything set after the elections.