Eligibility Exception:
allegiance to a foreign State, conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, undischarged bankruptcy
Right Vote Foreign Res:
Foreigners zith 7 years residents can vote
Registration Type:
Formal registration in office
Registration Basis:
Requirement short of residence (e.g. work, etc)
Multiple Registr Allowed:
Only 1 registration allowed at a time
Election Management & Enforcement
Nameof EMB:
Electoral Commission
Independent EMB:
Yes
EMBNominations:
7 members selected by Parliament, in consultation with political parties in Parliament.
EMBTenure:
4 years
Who Runs Election:
Election Management Body
Nameof Elect Enforcement Body:
High Court
Candidacy & Campaign Rules
Debate Average:
1
Debate Format:
2014: first ever televised debate. Organized by the privately-owned Zodiak Broadcasting Station, the debate comprised running mates from the country’s major political parties. They are Sosten Gwengwe from the ruling People’s Party, Richard Msowoya from the Malawi Congress Party, Godfrey Chapola from United Democratic Front and Saulos Chilima of the Democratic Progressive Party. During the debate, conducted in the local language Chichewa, the candidates were asked how they would address various issues of national concern if voted into power. Among the issues were agriculture, infrastructure development and homosexuality.
Opinion Polls Embargo:
No embargo
Electoral System & Organisation
Elect System Main Election:
Plurality
Main Election Type:
Presidential
Main Election Cycle:
5
Numb Round Main Election:
One
Referenda_Binding:
Always Binding
Voting Machine:
None
Vote IDRequired:
ID check compulsory
Polling Card:
No polling card
National Holiday Elect Day:
Never
Districting Source:
EMB
Districting Flexibility:
The Independent Electoral Commission is responsible for delimitation every five years, which is submitted to the National Assembly for approval.
Frequency Districting Change:
5
Polling Station
Average Voterby Polling Station:
1719
Normal Opening Time Poll Station:
600
Normal Closing Time Poll Station:
18:00
Polling Station Numbers:
4345
Listof Polling Station Buildings:
schools, public buildings
Box Feeding System:
Voter
Vote Receipt:
No receipt
Tellersor Party Employees:
The MEC has established 5,006 polling centers in all 193 constituencies in Malawi to be staffed by 11,095 poll workers.
Count Locallyor Centrally:
locally
Manualor Automatic Count:
manual
Nature Counting Personnel:
Presiding Officer
Ballot Paper
Ballot Type:
Paper
Singleor Multi Paper Ballot:
Single
Max Numberof Votesper Ballot:
3
Ballot Paper Type Description:
Single Ballot Paper with Candidate Name and Photo, Party Name and Symbol. Mark X for One Chocie.
Ballot Paper Type Photo Upload:
YES
Ballot Photos:
Freely Allowed
Ballot Logos:
Freely Allowed
Orderof Candidatesor Parties:
random
Remote Voting
Geographical Remote Voting:
Automatic right
Remote Voting List:
A person shall be allowed to vote at a polling station located at the registration centre where he is registered. If it is not possible to do so, a voter may be granted the right to vote at a polling station located at a place where he will be on polling day.
Mobile Polling Stations:
No
Special Needs
Provision Illiterate Voters:
1994: No provision under the electoral law for such assistance
Special Provision Female Voters:
separate queuing arrangements for men and women at voting centres
Provision Blind Voters:
Electoral Commission Act (1993, last amended 1998). Section 87 states: A voter who is blind or is affected by disease or other physical disability may vote accompanied by another registered voter of his own choice or, failing such voter, by a polling station officer who shall assist such person in casting his vote and shall act faithfully to the wish expressed by such person and with absolute secrecy regarding the vote cast by such person.
Provision Deaf Voters:
Electoral Commission Act (1993, last amended 1998). Section 87 states: A voter who is blind or is affected by disease or other physical disability may vote accompanied by another registered voter of his own choice or, failing such voter, by a polling station officer who shall assist such person in casting his vote and shall act faithfully to the wish expressed by such person and with absolute secrecy regarding the vote cast by such person.
Provision Motor Handicap Voters:
Electoral Commission Act (1993, last amended 1998). Section 87 states: A voter who is blind or is affected by disease or other physical disability may vote accompanied by another registered voter of his own choice or, failing such voter, by a polling station officer who shall assist such person in casting his vote and shall act faithfully to the wish expressed by such person and with absolute secrecy regarding the vote cast by such person.
Targeted Initiatives
Recent Major Changes:
2018: New Biometric Registration.
Transparency Initiative:
After the close of the poll ballot the votes are counted by the Presiding Officer in the presence of political party representative