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Early voting sparks political debate ahead of Zanzibar elections

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 12:44 GMT by The Citizen
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Early Voting Sparks Political Debate Ahead of Zanzibar Elections

The upcoming 2024 Zanzibar presidential and parliamentary elections have thrown the island’s political community into a spirited debate over a newly introduced early‑voting system. While the move is lauded by some as a means to boost turnout and reduce the risk of intimidation, critics argue that it will inflate costs, compromise security, and benefit the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. The article published by The Citizen on 17 August 2024 provides a comprehensive overview of the issue, drawing on statements from the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), opposition leaders, and civil‑society observers.

1. The Early‑Voting Initiative

In a bid to address logistical challenges that plagued the 2015 and 2016 elections, the ZEC announced that early voting will commence on 22 September 2024 and run through 5 October 2024. Eligible voters—those registered at the time of the election—will be able to cast their ballots at designated polling stations across the archipelago well before the official election day on 8 October 2024.

The ZEC’s press release (linked in the article) cites the Electoral (Amendment) Act of 2023, which expanded the legal framework for early voting and mandated that the Commission set up “adequate security measures, voter education campaigns, and transparent procedures.” Early voting is scheduled to take place in the morning hours, with a separate set of ballot boxes to prevent any possibility of duplication.

2. Ruling Party’s Perspective

CCM, which has governed Zanzibar since 1964, welcomed the early‑voting proposal. CCM Secretary‑General John Ngurusi explained that the early‑voting schedule “will relieve the strain on our infrastructure on election day and ensure a smoother counting process.” The party’s spokesperson also noted that early voting could increase participation among working‑day voters, a demographic that traditionally turns out in lower numbers.

The party’s official statement emphasized the legal legitimacy of the move and pledged to cooperate with the ZEC to guarantee “free, fair and transparent elections.” In a related interview on Zanzibar Today, Ngurusi promised that “the party will also monitor the early‑voting process to prevent any irregularities.”

3. Opposition Concerns

Opposition parties, led primarily by the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT‑Wazalendo) and the United Democratic Party (UDP), expressed skepticism about the early‑voting rollout. ACT‑Wazalendo’s chairman, Mwalimu S. Msuho, warned that the new schedule would “give the incumbent a disproportionate advantage” because it “would allow them to concentrate resources on key districts while opposition groups scramble to set up early‑voting sites.” He further alleged that the early‑voting timetable might disproportionately affect rural voters who lack transport options to reach the new polling stations.

UDP’s leader, Khalid Mwinyi, echoed similar concerns, adding that the early‑voting period could “inflate the cost of elections by millions of shillings,” citing the requirement for additional security, transportation, and personnel. He requested that the ZEC provide a detailed cost‑benefit analysis to justify the expansion.

In an open forum, both ACT‑Wazalendo and UDP called for a neutral oversight body to supervise early voting. They also demanded that the ZEC publish a comprehensive plan detailing security protocols and a clear timeline for the roll‑out of early‑voting sites.

4. Civil‑Society and Electoral Observers

Civil‑society groups such as the Zanzibar Electoral Monitoring Network (ZEMN) and Freedom in the World Alliance (FWA) joined the debate. According to ZEMN’s chief observer, Dr. Aisha Nyerere, the early‑voting system will “only be effective if the ZEC ensures that all polling stations, whether early or on‑day, are equipped with independent observers and proper ballot‑box tracking.” Dr. Nyerere stressed that “voter education” campaigns are crucial to prevent confusion about the new procedures.

Freedom in the World Alliance’s report, which the article links to, argued that early voting should be contingent on demonstrable improvements in logistics and security from previous elections. The report cited instances from the 2015 election where “security lapses and irregularities” were widespread, suggesting that early voting could exacerbate these problems if not carefully managed.

5. Legal and Procedural Framework

The article outlines the Electoral (Amendment) Act of 2023 that permits early voting, but also references the Zanzibar Constitution’s provisions on voter rights and the role of the ZEC. The ZEC’s guidelines—available on the commission’s website (linked in the article)—detail:

• Eligibility criteria for voters in early voting
• Security arrangements, including police presence and ballot‑box seals
• Procedures for voter verification to prevent double voting
• Timeline for the return and sealing of early‑voting ballot boxes

These guidelines also require the ZEC to publish a pre‑election audit of early‑voting sites, including demographic data and logistical plans. The ZEC has pledged to share this audit with opposition parties and civil society before the early‑voting window opens.

6. The Political Climate

Zanzibar’s political landscape has been marked by intense rivalry between CCM and the opposition since the early 2010s. The article references the 2015 election, where allegations of “ballot‑box stuffing” and “misconduct” led to widespread protests and a temporary halt in the vote‑counting process. The 2016 election, held under a UN‑backed observer mission, also drew criticism for “unfair treatment of opposition candidates.”

The early‑voting debate thus occurs against a backdrop of lingering mistrust. Some analysts believe that if early voting is conducted transparently, it could restore confidence in the electoral process. Others fear it might be used to entrench CCM’s dominance, especially if opposition parties cannot match the logistical capacity of the ruling party.

7. Looking Ahead

The article ends by noting that the ZEC will hold a public consultation session on 30 September, where citizens, parties, and civil society representatives will discuss the early‑voting schedule and address any remaining concerns. The consultation is expected to produce a final timetable that balances the need for logistical efficiency with the imperative of fairness.

In a statement from the ZEC, Commissioner Ms. Fatuma Mtebuli reiterated the Commission’s commitment to “upholding the integrity of the electoral process” and urged all stakeholders to cooperate in “ensuring that every Zanzibari’s voice is heard.”

In Summary

The Citizen’s article provides a balanced look at the early‑voting initiative in Zanzibar, highlighting the legal framework, stakeholder positions, and the broader political context. While the early‑voting system offers potential benefits—higher turnout, reduced congestion, and a smoother counting process—it also raises legitimate concerns about cost, security, and partisan advantage. The outcome of the upcoming consultation will likely set the tone for how Zanzibar’s 2024 elections unfold and could signal a broader shift in the island’s democratic practices.