## Thai Embassy in Paris Facilitates Overseas Ballot Delivery, Live Vote Count Scheduled
Thailand’s overseas voting process is underway, with the royal Thai Embassy in Paris ensuring the secure return of ballots from French citizens for a referendum scheduled to be tallied on February 8, 2026.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Paris confirmed the dispatch of election cards for members of the House of Representatives (MP) on February 5, 2026.A total of 2,594 envelopes, representing 88.84% of the 2,920 registered Thai citizens in France, were packaged into six diplomatic mail bags.These ballots were entrusted to Mr. Peeraphon Peeranon, Consul, for delivery to Ms. Saowalak Rungwattanachinda, Director of Election Management 1, at the Office of the Election Commission, arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. The ballots were scheduled to arrive in Thailand at 6:00 a.m. on February 5, 2026.
Ensuring Citizen Participation in Overseas Voting
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The embassy expressed gratitude to Thai nationals residing in France for their cooperation in exercising their voting rights. This effort was supported by Thai clubs and communities throughout France, who assisted in the logistical process of returning the ballots to Thailand for timely counting.The embassy emphasized the importance of civic duty,stating that individuals who were unable to vote should report the reason for their absence.
Why this matters: The prosperous delivery of these ballots represents a key step in ensuring the participation of Thai citizens residing in France in Thailand’s democratic process.The high return rate – 88.84% – suggests strong engagement from the Thai community in France. Who is involved: The Royal Thai Embassy in Paris, led by Consul Peeraphon Peeranon, coordinated the effort with the Office of the Election Commission in Thailand, specifically Director Saowalak rungwattanachinda. Thai clubs and communities in France also played a vital role. What happened: 2,594 ballots were collected and dispatched via diplomatic mail. how it happened: Ballots were packaged into six secure diplomatic mail bags and transported from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Thailand.
Live Broadcast of Vote Count
To promote transparency and engagement, the Royal Thai embassy in Paris will conduct a live broadcast of the vote count on Sunday, February 8, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m. local time. The proceedings will be streamed on the embassy’s official Facebook page: Royal Thai Embassy – Paris, france – Royal Thai Embassy, Paris.
Reporting Non-Participation
Thai citizens who did not register to vote or who registered but were unable to cast their ballot are encouraged to submit a reason for their non-participation. Dedicated channels have been established for reporting these instances:
- [Click here to report reasons for not exercising your right to vote](link placeholder).
- [Click here to report reasons for not exercising your right to vote in the referendum](link placeholder).
This initiative underscores Thailand’s commitment to ensuring broad participation in the democratic process, even among its citizens living abroad. The embassy’s proactive approach, including the secure ballot delivery and live broadcast, aims to foster trust and transparency in the electoral system. The outcome: The vote count will be publicly broadcast on February 8, 2026, allowing for full transparency. The embassy is also collecting data on non-participation to improve future electoral processes.
