Thailand’s Election Commission Releases Official Results of February 8th General Election

The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) released the official results from the February 8th general election and constitutional referendum on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The release comes amid scrutiny and a flood of complaints regarding the handling of the polls, with recounts and new votes required at some polling stations.

Election Results Overview

The election, held on February 8, 2026, determined the composition of the House of Representatives. The Bhumjaithai Party secured the most seats with 193, followed by the Pheu Thai Party with 118, and the People’s Pheu Thai Party with 74. Here’s a breakdown of the top five parties:

• Bhumjaithai Party: 193 seats (Constituency Vote: 9,993,777 / 29.92%; Party-list Vote: 5,964,814 / 18.07%) – Leader: Anutin Charnvirakul
• Pheu Thai Party: 118 seats (Constituency Vote: 7,864,475 / 23.55%; Party-list Vote: 9,802,658 / 29.70%)
• People’s Pheu Thai Party: 74 seats (Constituency Vote: 5,789,512 / 17.34%; Party-list Vote: 5,158,066 / 15.63%)
• Kla Tham Party: 58 seats (Constituency Vote: 3,847,563 / 11.52%; Party-list Vote: 606,312 / 1.84%) – Leader: Thamanat Prompow
• Democrat Party: 22 seats (Constituency Vote: 2,017,120 / 6.04%; Party-list Vote: 3,662,606 / 11.10%) – Leader: Abhisit Vejjajiva

A total of 52,922,923 citizens were registered to vote, with a turnout of 65.31%.

Constitutional Referendum and Ongoing Concerns

Alongside the general election, a referendum was held to determine whether the 2017 constitution should be replaced. The EC acknowledged that recounts and new votes are necessary in some constituencies due to complaints regarding irregularities and a lack of transparency in the vote counting process. Recounts have been ordered at eight locations, including one in Bangkok, and a fresh election will be held at one polling station in Phayao.

Timeline and Next Steps

The EC has up to 60 days from the polling day to certify the results, but is facing pressure to expedite the process to facilitate the formation of a new government. The commission has provided access to vote count reports via its website, ectreport69, allowing citizens to check constituency and party-list MP counts by polling unit.

The 2026 election follows the 2023 general election, which saw three coalition governments formed after initial attempts by the Move Forward Party were blocked by the senate. Subsequent governments were formed by Pheu Thai, initially under Srettha Thavisin and later under Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Key Takeaways

• The Bhumjaithai Party won the most seats in the February 8th general election.
• The Election Commission is addressing complaints and conducting recounts in several constituencies.
• The EC aims to certify the results within 60 days to enable the formation of a new government.
• A constitutional referendum was held concurrently with the general election.