By Chantelle Muzanenhamo.
The Government of Zimbabwe is set to implement a new voter registration system that will automatically include citizens turning 18 years old on the voters’ roll. This initiative is part of an omnibus Constitutional Amendment Bill currently in the drafting stages, aimed at significantly reforming the country’s electoral framework ahead of the upcoming elections in 2028.
Under the proposed changes, the responsibility for maintaining the voters’ roll will shift from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Civil Registry Department (CRD). This transition is expected to streamline the registration process and enhance the accuracy of the voters’ roll.
The CRD will utilize personal and biometric data collected during the application process for civic documents, such as national identity (ID) cards, to automatically register eligible voters.
Once registered, voters will be assigned to specific polling stations based on the residential address they provided when applying for their ID card. In cases where individuals change their addresses after obtaining their ID cards, they will have the opportunity to update their information prior to registration to ensure accurate polling station assignment.
Additionally, the Registrar-General’s Office will automatically remove the names of deceased individuals from the list once a death certificate is issued, ensuring that the voters’ roll remains current and reflective of the living population.
Nick Mangwana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share insights on the proposed changes, stating, “There are proposals to automatically register those who turn 18 on the Voters Roll. The Registrar General will take responsibility for the Voters’ Roll from ZEC. When one dies, they will be automatically removed from the Roll.”
This initiative aims to encourage greater youth participation in the electoral process and is seen as a significant step toward modernizing Zimbabwe’s voting system.