The Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has announced a reduction in the hours of voting in the forthcoming by-elections and general election slated for September 16 2025.
Mec Chairperson Judge Chifundo Kachale said this on the sidelines of the launch of by-elections in Mwasa Ward and Mtiya Ward in Mangochi Municipality and Zomba City, respectively.
“There are a few changes we have made. We will now be voting from 6am to 4pm. Earlier, we used to be voting from 6am to 6pm. This change is in the new laws that were passed by Parliament in November 2022.
“This will enable vote counting to take place while there is sunlight. Everyone who presents him or herself before 4pm will not be sent back but will be allowed to vote,” he said.
Kachale appealed to the electorate to take the Local Government elections seriously and turn out in large numbers.
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“To us, every election is a serious undertaking. We are also encouraging people to vote for councillors because they are key to development,” he said.
He added that room for voting is always there for all those who lost their voter registration certificates.
“During the registration period, they should go and request for a replacement of their voter certificate at the centre they registered in 2019. They don’t need to bring a police report or pay a fee,” he said.
Kachale also said the collection of nomination papers is open.
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But the Mec chair said candidates will now be required to pay nomination fees first before being issued with candidacy papers.
“Nomination papers are readily available at council level. Those willing to contest will first collect a special deposit slip from the council, then proceed to pay their nomination fees at FDH Bank. Then they will bring the deposit slip to the council where they will be issued with a GR (general receipt) and then collect their nomination papers from the ward returning officer,” he said.
The commission also says these procedures will apply to all forthcoming elections.
Campaign for by-elections in the two wards would run from July 27 to September 24.
“The new law has removed immunity from prosecution for campaign utterances. We urge candidates and their followers to stick to issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, voting is expected to take place on September 26 this year.
Nomination fee for the Local Government by-elections is K40,000 for male candidates while female candidates and people with disabilities will part ways with K20,000.
The commission also recognises youths as a special group.
And, in line with the National Youth Policy, which puts the youth age-limit at 35, candidates under this age shall pay K30,000 as nomination fee.
Mec has since put a specific day in the by-elections’ calendar, being August 11 2023, to give aspiring candidates or their representatives an opportunity to go to returning officers with nomination papers for pre-examination.
Presentation of nomination papers shall take place on August 12 2023 between 0800hrs and 1600hrs in the two respective wards.
