By Mphatso M’bang’ombe
The Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has said the ongoing voter registration exercise is scheduled to end today at 4pm, urging eligible voters who have not registered to do so before the deadline.
Mec spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa told The Daily Times that people have to take advantage of the remaining hours to register and secure their right to vote.
“We are appealing to all eligible Malawians who have not yet registered to quickly visit their nearest registration centre and register before 4pm on Friday [today]. Our voter registration system will automatically close at 4pm, [regardless of] whether there will be people on the queue or not,” he said.
Those who are eligible to vote are Malawian citizens aged 18 years and above.
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The eligible voters are required to present valid proof of registration with the National Registration Bureau (NRB)
“Only those who are 18 years and above and who possess a valid proof of national registration are eligible to register. Should anyone have challenges with their evidence, they should first engage the nearest NRB office to be assisted then come to register with Mec,” Mwafulirwa said.
The Mec spokesperson said the registration exercise has, so far, run smoothly.
He said this was despite that the registration exercise has been implemented during the rainy season.
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“Overall, the exercise has run smoothly. Our registration centres have been operational throughout, equipment has been functioning well and our staff have been diligently assisting registrants,” Mwafulirwa said.
He added that Mec had been closely monitoring the process and addressing minor operational challenges as they arise to ensure that the exercise is completed efficiently.
Since January 31 this year, Mec has been running the voter registration exercise in all wards and constituencies where by-elections will take place on 17 March 2026.
However, there will be no by-election in Nkhotakota Liwaladzi Constituency, where the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that there should be no voter registration and only those who registered for the September 16, 2025 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections should be the only voters.
Meanwhile, People’s Federation for National Peace and Development (Pefenap), which is a member of Mtendere Electoral Support Network, has urged eligible voters to register so that they can exercise their right to vote.
“Most importantly, it is important to ensure that peace prevails during the electoral process. We, as Pefenap, are, so far, impressed with the fact that electoral stakeholders have upheld peace. This is what is expected of Malawians, who are known as peace-loving people.
“Where peace prevails, development flourishes. Our hope is that electoral stakeholders shall continue to uphold peace until all processes related to the elections are completed. We also congratulate the Malawi Police Service for ensuring that peace prevails. This is the way to go,” Chaka said.
