By: Dawda M. Jallow
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has completed its 44-day supplementary voter registration exercise, recording a total of 212,095 newly registered voters nationwide.
The provisional figures were announced on Thursday at a stakeholders’ engagement forum held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, bringing together political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other election stakeholders.
IEC Chairman Joseph Colley said the forum was intended to promote transparency and provide stakeholders with direct updates on the electoral process.
He said the supplementary registration exercise ran from April 8 to May 21, 2026, as an extension of the 2021 General Voter Registration exercise. A total of 100 registration teams were deployed across the country to ensure nationwide coverage.
According to him, the exercise targeted eligible citizens who were not captured in the 2021 registration, as well as those who would attain voting age by December 5, 2026.
He added that the process also facilitated voter transfers and replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, with 8,159 voters applying for transfers to new polling stations.
The IEC reported that political parties, civil society organizations, development partners, observer groups and the media were accredited to observe the exercise, while party agents were stationed at registration centres and IEC offices.
Chairman Colley said the Commission introduced enhanced verification measures, including biometric matching and attestation procedures, to strengthen the integrity of the voter register and prevent irregularities.
He disclosed that the biometric system flagged 24,058 suspected cases of double registration, which he said constitute an offence under Gambian electoral law, adding that appropriate legal measures would be taken.
The IEC also highlighted voter education initiatives conducted through radio programmes, community outreach and social media campaigns to increase awareness and participation.
Colley expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their cooperation and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to delivering free, fair and transparent elections, noting that the final voter register will be completed after ongoing verification and revision processes.
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