King Prajadhipok's Poll: EC Ranks Lowest in Public Trust
King Prajadhipok's Institute released a public survey on August 21, 2026, showing the Constitutional Court leading in trust while the Election Commission lags behind.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- King Prajadhipok's Institute released a survey on constitutional organizations from 2,000 respondents across Thailand.
- The Constitutional Court topped public trust at 31.3%, followed by uncertain respondents at 27.7%.
- The Election Commission received the lowest trust at 3.8%, with 51.9% citing a lack of independence.
On August 21, 2026, King Prajadhipok's Institute published the results of a public opinion survey entitled "Trust in Constitutional Organizations and Perspectives on the Election Commission's Performance." The survey was conducted between August 7-10, 2026, involving 2,000 respondents aged 18 and older distributed across all regions of Thailand to gauge public sentiment toward independent agencies.
The survey highlighted what information citizens expect from the Constitutional Court and independent bodies. A leading 32.8% of respondents want disclosures on case progress and complaints, followed by 18.2% who wish to know the reasoning behind rulings, and 15.3% interested in budget expenditures and procurement. Combining the top two categories, 51.0% prefer tracking ongoing cases and understanding rationales over simply learning the final verdicts.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Regarding overall trust in constitutional organizations, the Constitutional Court ranked highest with 31.3% of the choices, closely trailed by 27.7% who remained uncertain or had no opinion. Other agencies included the National Human Rights Commission at 13.2%, the NACC at 10.9%, the State Audit Office at 6.6%, and the Ombudsman at 6.5%. Meanwhile, the Election Commission recorded the lowest public trust at a mere 3.8%.
This poll underscores a significant challenge for Thailand's independent agencies in fostering transparency and public confidence. The Election Commission in particular faces heavy skepticism regarding political neutrality and freedom from interference, while the large proportion of undecided citizens points to an urgent need for these institutions to improve communication and tangible performance.
In evaluating the Election Commission across six operational dimensions, efficiency and speed in managing elections scored highest for "much to most" at 23.7%. Conversely, negative evaluations dominated the "little to least" scale: 51.9% rated its independence from political interference poorly, and 50.8% criticized its fairness and neutrality in adjudicating electoral cases, marking critical areas that require immediate reform.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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