Thailand Holds 2026 General Election and Constitutional Referendum

On February 8, 2026, Thailand conducted a nationwide general election alongside a constitutional referendum, combining parliamentary voting with a separate ballot on constitutional reform. The two polls were held the same day across the country, with voters choosing members of the national legislature and deciding whether to initiate the drafting of a new constitution. In the general election, incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul secured a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives. While no single party was reported to have won an outright majority at the time, the plurality result positioned Anutin and his allies at the center of post-election government formation discussions, in line with Thailand’s parliamentary process. Running concurrently, the constitutional referendum asked voters whether the country should begin drafting a new constitution. According to announced results, the proposal passed, authorizing the next procedural steps toward constitutional drafting under existing legal frameworks. The approval enables lawmakers and designated bodies to move forward with establishing a drafting mechanism, subject to subsequent legislation and procedural rules. The pairing of a general election with a constitutional referendum marked a coordinated national decision-making moment, addressing both the composition of the legislature and the foundational legal framework governing the state. Official certification of results and the detailed timeline for the constitutional drafting process were expected to follow through established electoral and parliamentary channels.