Are farangs allowed to vote in Thailand?

[Lung Per]

Some countries allow foreign citizens to vote in municipal elections, provided certain criteria are met. These could include length of stay, permanent residence, etc. etc. Most Scandinavian countries have extensive and accurate Government computer systems which keep track of everybody, making it almost impossible to cheat the polls. Needless to say (but I'll say it anyways), illegal immigrants are not in the central register and thus unable to vote.

I do not believe foreign nationals are allowed to vote in any shape or form in Thai elections. And why would you? While you are here, enjoy the sweet things in life and fergit politics.
Thais are human beings like most of us, but when sh-t comes to shove they have a completely different mindset than us westerners.

[Roel]

As there are many non-native English speakers on here:

crock
a thing that is considered to be complete nonsense

tool
One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used. A fool. A cretin. Characterized by low intelligence and/or self-esteem.

Now also the non-native speakers can create a doge:
Wow
Such insult
Many bad

[Nereus]

...................................a dog was found to have voted in one local election last year.

That is absolutely no way to write about Michelle; after all, she is your first lady.

[hhfarang]

^

[PET]

Why would they be? I can't think of any country that allows foreigners to vote in their elections.

ABSOLUTELY - The question beggars belief ?

[dundrillin]

Without getting personal I think you and Pleng are a bit confused

[dtaai-maai]

This is the situation in the UK:

Below is a full list of Commonwealth and European Union countries. If you are a citizen of one of these countries, and resident in the UK, you are eligible to register to vote in UK elections. To qualify, Commonwealth citizens must be resident in the UK and either have leave to enter or remain in the UK or not require such leave. The definition of a 'Commonwealth citizen' includes citizens of British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories.
Citizens of the European Union (who are not Commonwealth citizens or Citizens of the Republic of Ireland) can vote in European and local elections in the UK, elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies (if they live in those areas) and some referendums (based on the rules for the particular referendum) but are not able to vote in UK Parliamentary general elections.
European Union countries
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy Latvia
Lithuania
Luxemburg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Commonwealth countries
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Botswana
Brunei Darussalam
Cameroon
Canada
Cyprus*
Dominica
Fiji Islands**
The Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
India Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta*
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
New Zealand
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
St Kitts & Nevis
St Lucia St Vincent & The Grenadines
Samoa
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom
United Republic of Tanzania
Vanuatu
Zambia
Zimbabwe**

[Pleng]

That is very surprising indeed. Still don't think it improves a farrang's chance of voting here (though would be happy to be proven wrong again!)... unless they manage to obtain Thai citizenship, of course.

Then there's the small matter of there not actually being anybody to vote for...

[STEVE G]

Then there's the small matter of there not actually being anybody to vote for...

Of course it's never going to happen but as a Farang I can imagine there might be people who you would vote against even if the choice of who to support was poor. I'm thinking of the kind of ultra-right wing nutters who are likely to be against foreigners and that kind of thing. (Actually, those lot don't seem to bother trying to win elections to get into power so it wouldn't make much difference!)

[PeteC]

You could always try to influence your Thai partner to agree to your choice of candidate. Seriously, there is currently a bit of the problem if elections are held if you are not a fan of Phua Thai. Many don't seem to know who they would vote for if the Democrats don't run, and voting is mandatory per my knowledge. Not sure of the penalty but I think if they miss too many elections they're barred from voting for life? Pete

[dtaai-maai]

Not voting is punishable by being barred from voting...? How very Thai that would be!

[Bristolian]

Not sure of the penalty but I think if they miss too many elections they're barred from voting for life? Pete

In Thailand, voting is compulsory according to Article 72 of the Constitution

This section says that every Thai person shall have the duty to exercise their right to vote. Those who fail to do so without notifying officials of a valid reason why they cannot vote shall lose his or her “right” as provided by the law.

The words “shall lose his or her right” leads some people to assume that if they do not vote in an election, they may lose the right to vote in future elections, however, this is not the case

If an eligible Thai citizen cannot vote they must inform the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) within seven days before or after the election.

The following are recognized by the EC as valid reasons for not being able to vote:

1. Urgent business one must attend at a far distance

2. Ailment, disability or old age causing inability to vote

3. Disability or old age causing inconvenience in traveling to vote

4. Traveling outside the Kingdom

5. Current residence is more than 100 kilometers from one’s designated polling station

6. Other reasons specified by the EC

If they do not inform the EC of their reason for not voting they will lose the following three rights:

1. The right to file petition for protest or removal of MPs and Senators

2. The right to run for candidacy for MP, Senator and local council or administrative positions, or receive appointment as a Senator.

3. The right to run for candidacy to become a Village Headman (Phu Yai Baan) or Village Chief (Kamnan)

By not voting and not following the procedures to inform, they will immediately lose the three rights, but they don’t lose your right to vote.

Once they vote again – in any official election, local or national – all three rights are restored immediately. Other than the three rights lost, there are no other penalties imposed.”

[STEVE G]

You could always try to influence your Thai partner to agree to your choice of candidate.

I knew someone who ferried a considerable number of Thai bar workers to Pranburi so they could vote at an election some years ago!

[PeteC]

Not sure of the penalty but I think if they miss too many elections they're barred from voting for life? Pete

In Thailand, voting is compulsory according to Article 72 of the Constitution

This section says that every Thai person shall have the duty to exercise their right to vote. Those who fail to do so without notifying officials of a valid reason why they cannot vote shall lose his or her “right” as provided by the law.

The words “shall lose his or her right” leads some people to assume that if they do not vote in an election, they may lose the right to vote in future elections, however, this is not the case.......

I heard a new slant on this today. As discussed above, the fear isn't that they'll lose the right to vote, but if they don't vote their name will be marked as having voted and their ballot used to vote for whoever the officials scamming the process want to vote for. Chew on that one for a moment!

[Nereus]

I heard a new slant on this today. As discussed above, the fear isn't that they'll lose the right to vote, but if they don't vote their name will be marked as having voted and their ballot used to vote for whoever the officials scamming the process what to vote for.

What In Thailand? In all my 25 years here I have never heard such fairytales!