BANGKOK, Thailand – Overseas ballots cast by Thai voters in France have arrived in Thailand after Election Commission officials personally transported six diplomatic mailbags from Paris. A total of 2,594 ballot envelopes were delivered, representing 88.84 percent of the 2,920 registered overseas voters in France, and will be included in the nationwide count.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Paris coordinated with the Election Commission and the Department of Consular Affairs after disruptions to the French postal system delayed the return of ballots. Additional ballot drop-off points were set up in several cities, and deadlines were extended, allowing ballots to be sorted and dispatched within the required timeframe. Election Commission officials supervised the handover at Charles de Gaulle International Airport before escorting the diplomatic mail to Thailand.
The embassy thanked Thai nationals in France for exercising their voting rights and acknowledged the support of Thai associations and community groups that assisted throughout the process. Their cooperation ensured the timely return of overseas ballots ahead of the 8 February count.
Referendum ballots cast in France will be counted on February 8 at the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris, beginning at 11:00 a.m. local time. The counting will be live-streamed on the embassy’s Facebook page, while voters who were unable to participate may notify authorities through the official online reporting system. (NNT)
