Bangkok: The Economic Forecasting Center of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce reveals that 73.6% of Thais will go to the polls.
According to Thai News Agency, the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce released the results of a survey on the 2026 nationwide election. The survey found that 73.6% of respondents said they would vote, while 25% were unsure and 1.4% said they would not. Among those expecting to vote, the top expectation from the new government was to reduce the cost of living/control prices, followed by solving economic problems/increasing people's income, and reforming the civil service/reducing corruption.
The Center for Economic and Business Forecasting also indicated that the survey showed that the majority (41.4%) followed election news through social media, followed by 20.3% through campaign activities, and then through acquaintances. Regarding influences on voting decisions, the majority (75.5%) stated they made their own decisions, with the remainder attributed to social media, family, media, community leaders, and friends, in that order.
Mr. Thanawat Pholvichai, Rector and Chief Advisor of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, predicts that the competition in this election will be intense, resulting in a greater influx of money into the economy, estimated at 40-60 billion baht, which will help support the economy. He noted that political awareness this year is quite high, and the conditions for forming a government depend on the intentions declared by each political party. The structure of the vote count will determine the size of the majority government. The competition among the top three candidates will be very close. If the competition isn't too close, he expects the government to be formed and the cabinet to be finalized within a month, with economic stimulus measures to be seen in May-June.
'Overall, as a result of the election and if a government is formed quickly, we estimate that the economy could maintain growth of 1.5-2.0% in the first quarter of 2026. If tourism continues to grow, it will create a vibrant overall atmosphere, providing a foundation to prevent the Thai economy from falling below 2% this year,' said Mr. Thanawat.