PATTAYA, Thailand – Chonburi Governor Narit Niramaiwong visited advance voting stations in Banglamung district on Sunday (Feb 1) to monitor voting operations, as more than 23,000 registered voters were expected to cast ballots in advance, with some confusion reported over polling locations.
The inspection took place at Banglamung School, one of the designated advance voting sites in Constituency 8, Chonburi Province. Governor Narit was accompanied by senior officials and was welcomed by Anusak Phiriyom, Banglamung District Chief and Chairman of the Election Commission for Constituency 8, who provided updates on voter turnout and operational challenges.
Reporters at the scene observed a steady stream of voters who had registered for advance voting arriving from early morning, resulting in traffic congestion around the polling stations. Officials and volunteers were deployed to manage traffic and assist voters, ensuring an orderly process.
Anusak said the voting on February 1 was for out-of-constituency advance voting in the 2026 general election. Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m., and turnout during the morning hours was particularly heavy, with many voters arriving before polls opened. He expected voter numbers to ease later in the day.
For Banglamung district, or Constituency 8 of Chonburi, approximately 23,000 voters from across the country had registered to vote in advance. Voting was divided between two locations: Banglamung School, which utilized two dome buildings, and Pattaya City School 2, which used its school dome. The voting process was organized into 43 ballot sets, each serving 500 voters, grouped by region and province.
One of the main issues encountered during the morning was voter confusion over polling locations, as advance voting was split between two schools. Some voters mistakenly went to the wrong venue, causing delays. Officials responded by deploying staff at key points and setting up information and coordination centers to verify voter registrations and provide directions.
Anusak also urged the public to participate in the official Election Day on Sunday, February 8, 2026, encouraging eligible voters to exercise their rights to choose their representatives. Polling stations nationwide will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
