The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Monday received the first consignment of ballot papers for the forthcoming elections scheduled for September 16.
MEC Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, confirmed that a total of 115 pallets of parliamentary ballot papers arrived through Kamuzu International Airport at around 3:30 PM.
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She said the Commission has arranged to receive the consignments in phases because of the large quantity of materials required for the tripartite elections.
The second consignment, containing ballot papers for the presidential election, is expected on September 4, while those for the local government election are due to arrive on September 6.
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Justice Mtalimanja assured Malawians that the Commission is working within its timetable to ensure all election materials are delivered on time.
“All ballot papers and other election materials will be dispatched to polling centres by September 15 to make sure that every station receives them before the polling date of September 16,” she said.
She added that the Commission will make sure every polling centre receives the materials in good time to avoid any delays or logistical challenges on the actual voting day.
The MEC Chairperson further encouraged political party observers to be present at the airport when consignments arrive to promote transparency in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and the Malawi Police Service have been deployed to provide 24-hour security at Kamuzu International Airport, where the ballot papers are being kept before distribution.
The presence of the security agencies is aimed at safeguarding the consignments and assuring the public of the integrity of the process.
The arrival of the ballot papers marks a significant step in the Commission’s preparations as the country counts down to the polls.
