National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has urged people with expired and valid national identity cards (IDs) to register to vote in the September 16 2025 General Elections.
Lilongwe Urban Nice civic education officer Hajira Ali said this on Saturday when Nice engaged people of Biwi Township.
Addressing people’s concerns during the engagement at Biwi Triangle Light Industrial Site, she said even people who have an expired ID can register.
Wongani Kaonga, a mechanic at the site, wanted to know whether the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will allow other forms of identification besides the national ID.
He queried: “Is it not possible for MEC to explore other identifying methods. For example, we have people who lost IDs or did not apply for the IDs due to religious reasons?”
In response, Ali said the new law only accepts those registered with National Registration Bureau (NRB).
She said: “However, those who registered with NRB but are yet to get their cards can still register using the application slips.
“The same applies to those with expired IDS. They can register as well.”
MEC is rolling out the first phase of voter registration from October 21 to November 3 2024.
Under the new electoral laws, only citizens with a national ID will be eligible to register to vote.
The requirement replaces the previous law, which accepted passports, driver’s licences or written proof from a chief as identification for voter registration.
Biwi Triangle Light Industries Association chairperson Malani Gondwe thanked Nice for the engagement.
Nice Trust is implementing Boma Lathu Programme with funding from the European Union.
