INEC hails high turnout as PVR’s second round update ends
TANZANIA: THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded the second round of phase two of the update exercise for the Permanent Voter Register (PVR).
The process, which began on 16 May 2025, in 16 regions across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, ended on 22 May 2025 after a seven-day period that included the public display of the preliminary voter register.
INEC Chairperson, Justice Jacobs Mwambegele, was present to oversee the closing of the exercise at the Bwilingu Ward Office in Chalinze District, Coast Region.
He acknowledged the strong turn out of citizens who took part in the registration exercise, either by registering for the first time or updating their existing information. The process also included the removal of ineligible individuals from the register. “A significant number of people came forward in these 16 regions during this second round of the PVR update,” said Justice Mwambegele.
As preparations continue, he mentioned that the third phase of the PVR update is scheduled for June this year. It will involve the registration of inmates and detainees in prisons across both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Chalinze Constituency Registration Officer, Ramadhani Possi, described the successful completion of the exercise in his area and thanked the commission for its support. “We thank the commission; the exercise has concluded safely,” he said.
A Chalinze resident, Emmanuel Mathias, who participated in the exercise, shared his experience. “I’m grateful to have received my voter card. Now I’m just waiting to vote in the election,” he said.
This second round of voter registration was successfully conducted in 11 regions on mainland Tanzania including Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Morogoro, Coast, Singida, Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Lindi and Mtwara and five regions in Zanzibar, which include Urban West, North Unguja, South Unguja, North Pemba and South Pemba.
Election preparations are in full swing. INEC has invited Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to provide voter education, with interested groups having been asked to submit their applications by 20 May 2025. Additionally, in April this year, INEC announced job opportunities for election officials, including returning officers and assistant returning officers who will oversee the upcoming election.
The third round of the register improvement exercise will involve 130 facilities in prisons on mainland Tanzania and 10 facilities in training colleges in Zanzibar. It will be held over seven days from 28 June to 4 July 2025.
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In the second phase of the PVR update, a total of 7,869 stations were involved—7,659 in mainland Tanzania and 210 in Zanzibar.
INEC projected that 1,369,609 new voters would be registered, 1,092,383 voters would update their information, and 148,624 names would be removed from the register due to lack of qualification.
