Zambia’s voter register is projected to rise to 8.8 million in 2026 after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) announced the addition of 1.6 million newly registered voters across the country.
The update reflects the highest growth in a single cycle since the 2021 general election and indicates a strong turnout during the continuous voter registration exercise.
Officials said the figure includes first-time voters, citizens who recently attained the voting age, and individuals who replaced or updated their details.
According to the ECZ, the revised register is the product of countrywide field activity carried out to ensure that eligible citizens were given an adequate opportunity to be captured before the 2026 polls.
The Commission said the surge is linked to both demographic changes and deliberate efforts to reach communities that previously recorded low registration numbers.
It noted that the exercise proceeded in all provinces and involved mobile teams, district offices, and satellite centres.
The Commission reported that the Copperbelt, Lusaka, Southern, and Eastern provinces contributed some of the largest increases due to their population densities and the high number of young citizens entering the electoral system for the first time.
Rural provinces also posted modest growth, although officials explained that mobility challenges and distance to centres remained limiting factors for sections of the population.
ECZ officials said the updated register is currently undergoing the standard verification process, which includes the removal of duplicate entries, corrections to personal details, and confirmation of transfers for citizens who changed locations.
They explained that this is routine work intended to protect the integrity of the roll ahead of nomination and polling activities.
The Commission added that verification teams were instructed to resolve anomalies quickly to avoid delays that might affect downstream electoral timetables.
Public interest surrounding the expanded register has been high, with citizens, political parties, and civil society organizations seeking clarity on numbers, provincial breakdowns, and the distribution of new registrants.
In response, the ECZ said it will release detailed disaggregated statistics once the verification phase concludes.
The body reiterated that transparency remains central to its mandate and that all stakeholders will have access to the final certified register well before the 2026 electoral calendar moves into the nomination period.
Officials stressed that the projected figure of 8.8 million voters is provisional until the clean-up exercise is completed.
They emphasised that final totals may vary slightly depending on corrections made during the verification process.
The Commission also advised citizens who recently registered to confirm their details at designated centres to ensure accuracy when the final roll is published.
The update comes as preparations for the 2026 general election intensify. The ECZ has been coordinating training programmes, procurement processes and logistical planning for polling materials.
It has also been holding consultations with political parties and election observers on guidelines that will govern the conduct of upcoming campaigns, nominations and polling procedures.
Officials noted that a stable and accurate voter register is a central component of these preparations.
The Commission said it remains committed to delivering an orderly and credible electoral process. It reminded citizens that continuous registration is still available for those who may not have been captured during the intensive phase.
District-level offices continue to issue new cards, replace lost ones and process transfers.
The ECZ encouraged eligible citizens to visit centres early rather than wait for the final months before the election, when queues are expected to grow.
Stakeholders have called on the public to remain engaged with the registration process by checking their details, following updates released by the Commission and participating in civic education programm.
Civil society groups have been conducting awareness activities to ensure that young voters, women and rural communities understand the importance of verifying information before the register is closed.
As the 2026 polls draw closer, the ECZ says it will continue providing regular updates and publishing timelines for each phase of the electoral process.
Once the verification stage ends, the Commission will move toward the certification of the register, which will serve as the operational foundation for nominations, polling-day planning and distribution of materials.
With the addition of 1.6 million new registrants, Zambia’s electoral landscape enters a new phase shaped by demographic growth and ongoing administrative work.
The ECZ maintains that its focus is on safeguarding accuracy, improving accessibility and ensuring that every eligible citizen is included in the final record that will guide the country’s next general election.
(Lusaka Times)
