The Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has announced that it will conduct a targeted voter transfer exercise today, aimed at resolving transfer issues affecting just 19 registered voters.
This development follows speculation that some names were missing from Mec’s voter registry.
The names of the voters could not be found in the preliminary voter register during the main transfer phase.
The limited exercise targets seven people in Zomba District, five people in Zomba City, two people in Machinga, two people in Nsanje and one person each in Lilongwe, Dedza, and Thyolo districts.
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Mec spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said in an interview that this is a one-off opportunity and that the centres will only operate between 8am and 4pm, closing immediately after the targeted voters complete the process.
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“It is strictly for the 19 individuals already identified and verified by the commission. No new applications for transfers will be accepted, and no extensions will be given. If any of the targeted voters fail to appear on the designated day, they will not be given another chance,” Mwafulirwa said.
In a statement issued Monday, signed by Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi, Mec stressed there will be no extension of time.
“If the targeted voters do not appear on the scheduled day at the designated centre, they will not be offered another opportunity,” the statement said.
It added that Mec will not entertain new transfer requests, as this exercise is only for registered voters who have already been identified and verified.
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Meanwhile, the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) has welcomed the development, saying that it is important that those who wish to change their polling places are assisted accordingly before Mec moves on to the voter verification exercise in the electoral calendar.
“We understand that Mec has already allocated the 19 registered voters whose details could not be found in the preliminary voters register and that they will follow them wherever they are to ensure they can vote at their preferred polling centres,” CMD Executive Director Boniface Chibwana said.
National Advocacy Platform Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said Mec’s decision to conduct a targeted voter transfer exercise for the 19 affected individuals is a step towards upholding the integrity and inclusivity of the electoral process.
“While the number may seem small, ensuring that every eligible voter is accounted for reinforces the fundamental democratic principle that every vote matters. It also demonstrates Mec’s responsiveness to identified anomalies, which is critical in building public trust and credibility in the electoral system,” Kondowe said.
He added that this incident highlights the need for improved data management and transparency in the voter registration and verification processes to prevent future oversights.
Mec recently explained that the issue arose when the 19 voters, though duly registered, could not have their transfer requests processed earlier because their information was not reflected in the preliminary voter register.
The electoral body added that the details of all these 19 people in question were found and added to the voters’ register.
Meanwhile, Mec has challenged political parties, aspiring candidates and civil society organisations to deploy their representatives for the exercise.
Recently, the commission announced that 60,761 registered voters had completed their voter transfers across the country.
Malawians are expected to elect their president, members of Parliament and ward councillors during elections slated for September 16, 2025.
