2025 - Malawi General Election 2025 (Malawi)

Overview

The 2025 Malawian General Election takes place on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, with polling scheduled from 06:00 to 16:00. Voters will choose a President and First Vice-President, 229 Members of Parliament, and 509 Local Government councilors across the country’s wards.

This election will be conducted under the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, 2023, which introduced key reforms, including the now familiar 50%+1 rule for presidential elections. Under this system, the winning presidential candidate must secure an absolute majority of the votes cast. If no candidate crosses that threshold, a run-off will be held within 30 days.

Voter roll and registration

According to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), a total of 7,203,390 Malawians are registered to vote. Women account for 57.1% of the electorate, reflecting an important demographic dynamic.

New constituencies and wards

For the first time, the 2025 elections will be conducted using new electoral boundaries. Following a comprehensive delimitation exercise, parliamentary constituencies have been increased from 193 to 229, while local government wards have risen from 462 to 509. The change is designed to improve representation, but it also poses fresh logistical challenges for the electoral body and political parties.

Key timelines

·       Campaigning runs from 14 July to 14 September 2025.

·       Nominations were received between 24–30 July, with the MEC publishing the official list of candidates by 8 August.

·       On 7 August, MEC confirmed that 17 presidential candidates had successfully met the nomination requirements.

Voting and results management

Voting will be conducted manually, using paper ballots. However, biometric voter registration (BVR) devices will be used at polling centers for voter identification and to enable the parallel electronic transmission of results, alongside traditional physical delivery of tally sheets. This hybrid approach is intended to strengthen transparency and ensure timely reporting of results.

Candidates and political dynamics

Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is seeking a second term. He faces a crowded field of challengers, most notably former President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who is mounting a comeback bid. The political landscape has been further reshaped by the collapse of the Tonse Alliance following the tragic death of Vice President Saulos Chilima in 2024.

What’s at stake

The 2025 elections are being closely watched both domestically and internationally. Malawi’s economy faces persistent challenges—rising inflation, debt stress, and forex shortages—which are at the center of campaign narratives. Governance, corruption, and service delivery are also major concerns.

Results Summary