Gambia electoral commission delays voter roll release
The Independent Electoral Commission cannot release raw voter data until court revisions are complete for the December 2026 election.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Gambia will not release raw voter roll data until Revising Courts finish their hearings and magistrates sign off on necessary changes. This decision comes amid calls for transparency ahead of the December 2026 presidential election. The IEC chairman stated on Thursday that the commission must first receive directions on which names to keep or remove from the register before finalizing the voter count.
IEC chairman explained that releasing the data prematurely would be illogical, as the final number of registered voters can only be determined after legal revisions. He assured stakeholders that the data will be shared with all political parties once the process is concluded, noting that magistrates are still actively handling cases before the Revising Courts. The commission has established procedures for providing voter information to parties and other election participants.
The IEC is also addressing other electoral preparations, including polling station arrangements and the involvement of political parties and their agents. The chairman emphasized the commission's commitment to making the election as inclusive as possible and urged stakeholders to consider the practical challenges of election preparation. The completion of the Revising Courts' work remains a prerequisite for releasing the raw voter roll data.
Why it mattersGambians awaiting the December 2026 presidential election will have to wait longer for access to raw voter roll data.