Thailand Election By The Numbers: Key Facts Ahead Of Feb. 8 Vote

Bangkok, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Thailand will hold a general election on February 8 in a closely watched contest led by three major parties. The vote could produce the country's fourth prime minister in under three years and will determine the makeup of the 500-seat House of Representatives.

Key Facts And Figures

• Parties Registered: 57 parties have registered to contest the election.
• Eligible Voters: About 53 million people are eligible to vote.
• Seats In The House: 500 seats (400 elected by constituency, 100 allocated by party list).
• Candidates: 5,089 candidates have registered across all parties and constituencies.
• Major Parties: Two of the largest parties, the People's Party and Pheu Thai, are the third incarnations of predecessors that were previously dissolved by Thai courts.
• Potential Prime Ministers: 93 politicians from 43 parties have been formally submitted as potential prime minister candidates.
• Historical Trend: Five of the past six elections were won by Pheu Thai or its earlier incarnations; only one elected Thai government has completed a full four-year term in the past quarter-century.
• Parliamentary Threshold For PM: A candidate needs 251 parliamentary votes to become prime minister.
• Ballot Papers: Voters receive three ballot papers: one for their constituency candidate, one for the party list, and one for a referendum on whether to pursue constitutional changes.
• Post-Election Deadlines: Election results must be certified within 60 days (no later than April 9). Once results are confirmed, the new parliament must convene within 15 days.

Context: The outcome will shape Thailand's political direction amid frequent government changes since 2020. Observers are watching whether long-running political movements maintain their influence or whether new alliances reshape the parliamentary balance.

(Compiled by Martin Petty; Editing by Kate Mayberry)