A protest group calling itself the “United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration” organised a mock referendum on Sunday, February 15, inviting the public to vote on whether the Election Commission (EC) should be removed from office. The activity took place from 5pm to 7pm on the Pathum Wan intersection skywalk near the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Rama 1 Road in Bangkok.

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Participants were asked a single question: “Do you agree that the Election Commission should be removed from office?” Ballots were cast in a mock booth set up at the site, allowing members of the public to express their views. The event was led by Teeraphat Supapitakphaiboon.

The group announced the activity through its Facebook page, encouraging people to join the mock referendum. Organisers said the location was chosen to attract the large number of young people who pass through the area. They also indicated plans to expand the campaign to other major universities.

Universities mentioned as potential venues for similar activities include Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, Ramkhamhaeng University, Kasetsart University and Srinakharinwirot University. Student organisations at these institutions were said to support the same idea. The organisers aim to build wider momentum among university communities.

The protest follows continued mobilisation by groups calling for a “recount” in relation to the 2026 election. On February 14 at 5pm, the “Thalu Gas” group and the “Recount Chon Buri” group held a rally outside the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in Pathum Wan. They claimed the 2026 election was not transparent and called for a nationwide recount to ensure transparency and restore public confidence in democracy.

The Election Commission has previously defended its procedures, including the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballots. Related legal action has also been reported, with the Administrative Court accepting a lawsuit concerning election procedures and considering requests to suspend results and call for a re-election.

The Nation reported that further activities by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration are expected, particularly if similar mock referendums are organised at university campuses. It remains to be seen whether the campaign will draw broader public participation or prompt an official response from the EC.

Pictures courtesy of The Nation

Key Takeaways

• A Thammasat-linked protest group held a mock referendum on February 15 calling for the removal of the Election Commission.

• The event took place at Pathum Wan intersection and aimed to mobilise young people and university students.

• Other protest groups have demanded a nationwide recount, alleging a lack of transparency in the 2026 election.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 16 Feb 2026

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It’s starting to look increasingly likely that Thai voters may be heading back to the polling booths.

The Administrative Court has already accepted lawsuits challenging the 2026 election procedures, while protest groups continue to demand recounts or even fresh elections.

Despite the EC insisting the bar codes and QR codes are lawful and do not compromise secrecy, it appears they failed to announce the use of these codes before ballots were cast!

Clarification only came after the election, in response to mounting public concerns and social media criticism.

In so doing, the EC has created a perception of secrecy and reactive communication. Even if the system itself is secure, the lack of early disclosure has clearly undermined public trust.

The real challenge for the Election Commission is whether it can now maintain public legitimacy. Even if its procedures are legally sound, once a significant portion of the electorate believes the process was opaque, the system risks losing credibility.

In democracies, perception of fairness is every bit as important as the mechanics of fairness.

7 minutes ago, Jim Waldron said:

In democracies, perception of fairness is every bit as important as the mechanics of fairness.

there you have the problem.. THailand is no democracy although they they pretend to be

Whom appointed the EC and who controls the EC?

The big conservative political parties are corrupt to the core - calling them "marfia controlled" parties would be closer to the truth.

Considering the potential role of the Ministry of the Interior in the recent scam, or was it a rather an election sham, one just has to follow the personal connections and money trails.

In any case, many sections of Thai society doe not believe the election results, and believe that "misdeeds" were involved in "fixing" the election.