By Burnett Munthali
As the final phase of the supplementary voter registration exercise came to an end on February 3, 2025, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioner Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano advised stakeholders not to expect voter registration figures to be as high as those recorded during fresh registration. His remarks aimed to clarify the purpose of the exercise and manage expectations regarding the number of newly registered voters.
Earlier in the day, Commissioner Fabiano had been monitoring supplementary voter registration centers in Dedza, where he took the opportunity to emphasize that this process was not an extension of the general voter registration exercise. Instead, he explained that it was a targeted initiative aimed at addressing specific gaps to comply with a court ruling issued on October 25, 2024.
The court order had mandated that any individual who presented themselves at a voter registration center but was not registered with the National Registration Bureau (NRB) should be given an opportunity to complete NRB registration before registering as a voter. This directive had been issued to ensure that those who had previously been unable to register due to documentation challenges were not excluded from the electoral process.
Dr. Fabiano reiterated that the supplementary voter registration exercise had been designed as a corrective measure rather than a mass mobilization effort. His comments came in response to concerns from political parties, civil society organizations, and other electoral stakeholders who had anticipated a large number of new voter registrations during this phase.
Throughout the exercise, MEC had focused on ensuring that eligible citizens who had previously faced difficulties in obtaining the necessary documents were given a fair chance to participate in the upcoming elections. The commission had worked closely with the NRB to facilitate the registration of those affected by the earlier restrictions.
As the supplementary voter registration period concluded, the focus shifted to the next stages of the electoral process, including the verification of the voter roll and the preparation for the upcoming elections. While the final number of newly registered voters remained to be confirmed, the implementation of the court’s directive was seen as a crucial step toward ensuring an inclusive and credible electoral process.
Dr. Fabiano’s engagement with stakeholders and his transparency in communicating the purpose of the supplementary registration underscored MEC’s commitment to upholding electoral integrity. As the country moved closer to the elections, attention turned to how the registered voter base would impact the overall electoral landscape and whether the measures taken during the supplementary registration would contribute to a fair and democratic process.
