Jingjok
How a Thai general election works
ban-chii-raai-chûue
Voters receive two ballots: one for a constituency MP and one for a party, the บัญชีรายชื่อ. The House of Representatives has 500 seats, 400 from constituencies and 100 from party lists, and it votes to choose the prime minister. Senators are no longer elected by the public; since 2024 they are selected by candidates from professional groups voting among themselves. Thai citizens aged 18 and over can vote at a polling station near their registered home, or register for early voting. Eligible voters who neither vote nor notify a reason lose some rights for two years, such as standing for local office. Elections are held on a Sunday, alcohol sales stop from the evening before, and the กกต. announces unofficial results the same night.
Try this today
Next time an election is announced, look up the date and notice how many people around you travel home to vote.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Politics and current affairs 2” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.