Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has disclosed that it has identified more than 2,800 cases of attempted double voter registration during the ongoing 2026 Supplementary Registration of Voters, warning that the practice constitutes a serious offense under Gambian electoral laws.
Speaking at the second monthly IEC Stakeholders Forum, IEC Chairman Joseph Colley said the Commission remains concerned that some individuals already captured in the 2021 voter register are attempting to register again.
“This amounts to double registration, which is a serious offense under the electoral laws of the country,” Colley said, urging all eligible Gambians to adhere to the principle of “one person, one vote.”
The supplementary registration exercise, which commenced on April 8, is scheduled to run until May 21 across 100 registration centers nationwide and will eventually cover a total of 730 gazetted centers.
Despite some technical and logistical challenges, Colley described the process as largely smooth, open, and transparent. He noted that political parties, civil society organizations, and the media have been granted access to monitor the exercise.
Among the challenges encountered were faulty printer heads, generator breakdowns linked to extreme heat, and a date-setting error involving one registration team in the North Bank Region.
The error resulted in 253 voter cards bearing the wrong month of registration. According to the IEC, 235 of those cards have since been retrieved and correctly reissued.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sambujang Njie also presented provisional figures for the first week of the exercise, indicating that 41,565 applicants were registered between April 8 and April 15.
The highest number of registrations was recorded in Brikama with 8,100 applicants, followed by Kanifing with 6,424 and Kerewan with 3,860.
Women accounted for 55 percent of the total registrations during the first week, reflecting strong female participation in the process.
The IEC further warned against interference by political actors and unregistered groups attempting to operate as political parties. Colley stressed that only parties officially registered with the Commission are permitted to sponsor candidates, access regulated state media airtime, and benefit from legal protections reserved for political parties.
He added that the Commission will continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
“The Commission remains committed to delivering a free, fair, transparent, and credible voter registration exercise,” he said.
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