Bangkok: If Chatchart resigns, a new governor must be elected within 60 days, assuring that the election will proceed according to the original timeline of June 28, 2026. The Director of the Bangkok Election Commission revealed that if Chatchart Charnvirakul resigns, a new gubernatorial election must be held within 60 days. He confirmed that the election will proceed as scheduled on June 28, 2026. He reiterated that the ballot papers will not contain QR codes and emphasized that candidates must be mindful of their campaign expenses, noting that even free contributions from influencers and YouTubers must be considered as expenses.
According to Thai News Agency, Sub-Lieutenant Sampan Saengkhamlert, Director of the Bangkok Election Commission, addressed the rumors that Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt had submitted a letter of resignation to the Minister of Interior. He stated that, according to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration regulations, a resignation submitted to the Minister of Interior takes effect from the day after resignation, and the Election Commission must organize an election within 60 days. During this interim period, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Permanent Secretary will serve as acting governor.
This timeframe falls close to the May 20th expiration date. Therefore, when the proposal was submitted for approval, the Director of Elections for Bangkok also approved the election at the same time. Regarding the budget for this Bangkok election, it has been set at 294 million baht, an increase from the previous Bangkok gubernatorial election which cost approximately 280 million baht. This budget will be used for managing polling stations, equipment, personnel, and providing facilities for the public. It is expected that candidate registration will begin on May 28th, 2026, and the election will be held on June 28th, 2026, in order to save costs.
This election confirms that there will definitely be election inspectors. Regarding the structure of the Bangkok Governor and Bangkok City Council elections, I will serve as the election supervisor, and there will be a Bangkok Local Election Committee of 5 members, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Permanent Secretary as the BMA Local Election Director. There will also be sub-committees in each of the 50 electoral districts. The Bangkok Local Election Committee is currently meeting, as the appointment order was issued yesterday. They are in the process of selecting a chairman, after which the BMA Local Election Director will issue an official appointment order. The number of eligible voters is 4,507,523, which is similar to the previous parliamentary election. There will be 6,629 polling stations (an increase of 99 stations compared to the previous parliamentary election). The location for reporting election results will be the Rattanakhosin Room at Bangkok City Hall.
Registration will take place from May 28th to June 1st, 2026, at the Irawat Pattana Building, Bangkok City Hall 2, Din Daeng District, Bangkok. A rehearsal for the registration process will be held on May 27th, 2026. The lottery draw will be conducted simultaneously at all 51 locations. Cards will be sent on June 18th via Thailand Post, with police escorts.
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Sampan confirmed that the ballot paper format this time will definitely not have a QR code, because the local election regulations use a rubber stamp method, which is a separate document and this is clearly stated.
Regarding first-time voters, particularly those who are 18 years old and those who have moved their domicile to a different district but have not yet resided there for a year, Sub-Lieutenant Sampan stated that the Election Commission will announce the voter registration list 25 days before the election to allow citizens to check their names. Those who have moved to a different district and have not resided there for a full year will not yet be included on the voter registration list because they do not yet meet the conditions of the local election law. This differs from the parliamentary elections, where the registration period is only 90 days, and citizens can request to add or remove names from the list before the election day according to the established procedures.
Regarding the management of this election, which is taking place during the rainy season, Sub-Lieutenant Sampan stated that they are currently trying to minimize the use of tents as polling stations. They are coordinating to relocate polling stations to indoor areas such as schools, temples, or shopping malls so that citizens can easily access and vote without facing problems from the rain. However, in some areas, especially shopping malls, further discussions are needed regarding opening the venues from the morning to accommodate voting.
Regarding election polls, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Sampan emphasized that opinion polls must be academic, with clear criteria and methodologies, and not conducted without a basis or academic support. Furthermore, election law prohibits the dissemination of election poll results within 7 days before the election, until 5:00 PM on election day, June 28th. If information is disseminated that is considered to be manipulative, deceptive, or misleading to the public about the popularity of a candidate, it may constitute an offense under Section 65, and the Election Commission will consider the circumstances and intent as key factors.
Regarding campaign assistants, for parliamentary elections, the number of assistants is limited to 20. However, for local elections, such as the Bangkok gubernatorial election and the Bangkok Metropolitan Council election, there is no specified limit on the number of assistants. Nevertheless, candidates must be careful to ensure that their assistance does not constitute vote buying or the provision of prohibited benefits.
Regarding influencers or YouTubers who support a particular candidate, Sub-Lieutenant Sampan stated that it is considered a form of campaign assistance. If there is a hiring fee or expenses involved, the candidate must include it in their election expenses. Even if no actual money is paid, if the assistance is provided free of charge, it is still considered a "gift" that must be assessed and reported to the Election Commission. Similarly, the use of campaign vehicles or parade floats, even if the owner provides the service for free, if the normal service cost is 1,500 to 3,000 baht per day, that figure must also be included as an expense for the candidate.
Furthermore, candidates campaigning electronically through various accounts such as Facebook, LINE, Instagram, and TikTok must notify the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) before proceeding. Similarly, all types of rallies and advertising must be reported in advance. Legally, there is a clear distinction between campaign assistants and supporters, and any assistance provided may be included as part of the total campaign expenses.
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Sampan also warned that if any individual, whether a member of the public, an influencer, or a YouTuber, continuously supports a candidate through live streams or promotional activities, with the candidate's knowledge or consent, the candidate must include such expenses in their income and expenditure accounts. This is to ensure fairness among all candidates, regardless of their financial status. Failure to do so could be considered receiving benefits without disclosure and may constitute a violation of election law.
Furthermore, it was emphasized that even if a campaign assistant is the candidate's spouse or child, their names must be properly registered with the Election Commission (EC) in accordance with the law, as they are considered campaign assistants under the same law. All candidates are also advised that if they have any questions regarding legal matters or procedures, they can contact the EC hotline at 1444.