MEC targets to improve voter turnout in 2025
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it has put in place several strategies, including accrediting more civil society organisations (CSOs) to improve voter turnout in the September 2025 Tripartite Elections.
MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa said in an interview on Sunday that having more CSOs accredited will ensure a wider reach to voters nationwide.
He said the commission will also intensify its outreach on civic and voter education.
Said Mwafulirwa: “At the same time, we do recognise that every stakeholder has a role to play. If factors making people not to participate in electoral activities are emanating from political parties, then parties have to come in and play their rightful role.
“Parties should demand accountability from their members. Many are times when political rallies are well-patronised ahead of a by-election but on the polling day a few people show up. Parties should demand explanation from their members as to why they do so.”
He said CSOs without accreditation will not be allowed to go out to teach people about elections regardless of the organisation’s financial status.
The measures come against the background of previous general elections registering not more than 75 percent turnout since the 2004 General Elections. In the June 23 2020 court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election, out of 6 859 570 registered voters, 4 445 699 turned out, representing 64 .8 percent.
During the 2014 Tripartite Elections, out of 7 470 806 registered voters, 5 285 278 cast their votes, representing a 70.75 percent turnout while in 2009, there were 4 370 442 who voted against 5 894 743 registered voters, representing a 74 percent.
Commenting on the turnout trends, political scientists Boniface Dulani and Ernest Thindwa said the situation was not bad considering that voting is not compulsory in the country.
But Dulani, who teaches political science at the University of Malawi, feared that the 2025 Tripartite Elections could be marred by worse low voter turnout than the previous elections because there is a lot of disillusionment among some prospective voters.
He said some people who had high hopes in the Tonse Alliance administration now feel like it has not lived up to their expectations.
Said Dulani: “When politicians don’t deliver, it does lead to those questions among ordinary people who are the voters about what the point of voting is. Politicians come and promise everything and the moon, and people expect that they would live to their promises.
“So one of the best ways of ensuring that people are encouraged and motivated to vote is for politicians to deliver on their promises,” said people tend to be pulled off by this kind of politics of using demeaning language among others.”
Thindwa said the country’s general elections have over the years failed to hit 75 percent turnout since 2004 because some people do not see their votes bearing fruits.
He said if the turnout is to improve, people have to see the link between voting and their living standards and that political parties should change their political campaign approach.
MEC is expected to hold the general election in September 2025.
