INEC unveils key guidelines ahead of election

DODOMA: THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued five key policy directives to ensure that eligible voters can fully exercise their democratic and constitutional rights during the 2025 General Election, scheduled for next week.

INEC has set October 29, 2025, as election day, when Tanzanians will go to the polls to elect their next President, Members of Parliament and Ward Councillors.

A statement issued yesterday by INEC’s Director of Election, Mr Ramadhani Kailima, the Commission has released the directives pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4, 19(3), 14(2), 84(3)(a) and (b), and 164 of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councillors Elections Act No. 1 of 2024, and Section 26 of the Independent Electoral Commission Act No. 2 of 2024.

According to INEC, a voter whose photograph is missing from the Permanent Voters’ Register (PVR) but possesses a voter’s card with personal details that match those in the PVR, shall be allowed to vote.

The statement noted a voter whose voter identification number differs from the number appearing in the PVR, but whose other details such as photograph and names are identical to those recorded in the PVR, shall also be allowed to vote.

The Commission directs that a voter who is duly registered in the PVR and whose details appear in the appropriate polling station register, but has lost or damaged their voter’s card, shall be allowed to vote using National Identity Card (NIDA), Driving Licence or passport.

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The commission stressed that: “The names appearing on the identification document must exactly match those recorded in the PVR.”

Kailima said in the statement that a voter holding a voter’s card whose details are not found in the PVR, shall not be allowed to vote.

INEC said that voters from 10 abolished wards but their information still reflects their former polling stations and have been relocated to new wards, shall be allowed to vote at their new designated polling stations.

Kailima mentioned abolished wards as Kanoge, Litapunga, Katumba, and Mtapenda (Ikolongo and Ndurumo Villages) in Nsimbo Constituency, Nsimbo District Council.

Others are Mishamo, Ilangu, Bulamata and Ipwaga in Tanganyika Constituency, Tanganyika District Council; and Milambo, Igombemkulu, and Kanindo in Ulyankulu Constituency, Kaliua District Council.