Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it is equally concerned with the new law restricting people to vote where they registered or get transfers during voter verification period.
Addressing the media in Lilongwe last evening, MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said the Commission has also been affected by the law, but added that they have to work within the law.
She said: “This is indeed a problem which has also affected the commission. Based on the current law, we have no authority to allow anyone vote elsewhere, including MEC staff.
“This is a major concern that has been raised during our engagements and our position remains that we cannot do anything but to operate within the law.”
Mtalimanja said MEC has also noted that some concerned parties have petitioned the President to convene Parliament to amend the law and resolve this issue.
“Should there be an amendment to the law, we will work within this law but as things stand now, we cannot do anything,” she added.
The category of voters affected by the current law includes polling day staff, security officers such Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force officers, party representatives, election observers and journalists.
This is in line with Section 74 of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Act of 2023 which states that a registered voter shall exercise his or her right to vote at a polling station located at the registration centre where he or she is registered or has been transferred to.
In an earlier interview, Centre for Multiparty Democracy executive director Boniface Chibwana said the commission is only implementing the law and it is up to parties to make arrangements to ensure their party representatives exercise their right to vote.
“Parties can allocate monitors to work near the registration centres where they registered while roving monitors can vote in the morning before commencing their work,” he said.
On his part, Media Council of Malawi chairperson Jolly Ntaba said the onus is on media houses to ensure that journalists’ right to vote is not affected by where they are posted to carry out their duties.
The MEC chairperson also appealed to candidates expected to submit nomination papers from today to observe the set standards, including time so that the process goes on smoothly.
