Brussels: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) is actively participating in international observation tours, monitoring parliamentary and referendum elections outside the Kingdom.
According to Thai News Agency, the Commission is conducting these tours to engage with Thai citizens abroad, addressing their queries while also ensuring the smooth execution of overseas voting processes.
Mr. Thiticheth Nuchanat has embarked on a study trip to the Thai Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, where he will observe the elections and referendums. The Embassy has invited Thai citizens residing in Brazil to meet with the Election Commission at the Ambassador's Residence in Brussels on January 25th, offering a platform to share their opinions on the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anan Suwannarat, another member of the Election Commission, is in Sydney, Australia, where the overseas election and referendum have witnessed the highest number of registered Thai voters. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Sydney has scheduled a discussion with the Election Commission for Thai citizens on January 24th, focusing on voting rights and referendum participation.
In Los Angeles, USA, Mr. Sitthichot Intrawises and Mr. Lertwiroj Kowattana are observing the elections. The Royal Thai Consulate-General has invited the local Thai community to engage with the Election Commission at the Phra Thammarajanuvat Hall, Thai Temple Los Angeles, on January 25th.
The Thai embassies and consulates general are in the process of receiving completed ballots from Thai citizens abroad. These ballots are being sorted before being sent back to Thailand for counting. Referendum ballots will be counted at the overseas locations, with the results subsequently dispatched to the Election Commission of Thailand.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra, Australia, reported that it has received ballots from 3,000 eligible voters. Thai citizens who have not received their ballots are encouraged to contact the embassy, as some envelopes have been returned due to incorrect delivery information. Issues like signature mismatches, form errors, and damage to envelopes are being addressed to ensure valid ballots are returned for counting.
In The Hague, a mobile unit has been set up for overseas voting, facilitating the process in five cities from March 22-26. Ambassador Asi Mamanee was among the first to cast his vote, with the embassy urging eligible voters to have their identification ready.
Embassies have faced challenges with ballot delivery, prompting announcements urging citizens with undelivered ballots to contact them. The Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul and Tokyo have encountered issues with incomplete addresses, hindering the delivery process. Citizens are reminded to update their contact information to ensure participation in the electoral process.