The Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) has called on the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to intensify civic and voter education to help the public better understand their roles during elections. The call aims to address voter apathy and reduce the number of void votes.
EAM Advocacy Officer for Karonga District, Fumbanani Mwale, made the remarks on Monday during a stakeholder meeting on the electoral process review held in the district.
Mwale noted that during the pre-election period, there were several misunderstandings that threatened the credibility of the electoral process.
“There were a lot of issues related to electoral management devices and the handling of election results. However, during the elections, the way MEC managed the process helped to restore public confidence in the results,” he said.
He added that limited civic and voter education contributed to low voter turnout and an increase in void votes.
“We discovered that many people lacked accurate information during the electoral period, which led to voter apathy and a higher number of invalid votes,” Mwale said.
In his remarks, Karonga District Elections Officer, Elias Nyirenda, said MEC has adopted an electoral cycle approach to its programming, which ensures that civic and voter education continues even outside election periods.
“Our office will continue providing civic and voter education between elections to ensure that the public fully understands their roles ahead of the 2030 polls,” Nyirenda said.
The meeting was organized under EAM’s Church United for Peace, Justice and Electoral Governance (CUPJE) project, and brought together participants from civil society organizations, the media, police, youth groups, and faith-based organizations in Karonga District.
By Wakisa Myamba
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