Elections in Zambia

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is the constitutionally independent body responsible for Zambia's formal national and local election system. Zambia has 10 provinces, 116 districts, 226 constituencies and 1,858 wards. The 2026 register contains 8,786,300 voters and was certified on 30 April 2026. The 2026 general election covers the President, the National Assembly, mayors or council chairpersons and councillors. Polling is scheduled for 13 August 2026 from 06:00 to 18:00. The President is elected directly. A candidate needs more than 50% of valid votes. If no candidate reaches that level, the two leading candidates contest a second ballot within 37 days. National Assembly elections combine constituency and proportional representation seats. Voters elect 226 constituency members by first-past-the-post, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins the constituency. The system also provides 40 proportional representation seats: 20 for women, 15 for youth and 5 for persons with disabilities. The National Assembly may also include up to 11 nominated members, the Vice-President, the Speaker and two Deputy Speakers. Local government elections use first-past-the-post elections for mayors or council chairpersons and ward councillors. Councils also receive proportional representation seats for women, youth and persons with disabilities. The Electoral Commission allocates these seats after the President-elect takes the oath and within seven days. The allocation uses valid presidential votes from the initial ballot, a quota and surplus votes; a tie is settled by lot. A party must have nominated a presidential candidate, submit its list within seven days and pay the prescribed fee. A first-past-the-post candidate cannot also appear on a proportional representation list. National Assembly lists are organised by category, while a persons-with-disabilities list includes alternates and a registration certificate. For councils, proportional representation is calculated under the 18% rule against the National Assembly constituency-seat base, with a 4:3:1 ratio for women, youth and persons with disabilities, at least one seat for each category and at least three proportional representation seats per council. A voter must be a Zambian citizen aged at least 18 and hold a Green National Registration Card, commonly called an NRC. Registration, transfer and corrections are handled through the ECZ. Voters can inspect the register electronically or at physical inspection points and may submit claims or appeals. The ECZ also provides voter education. On polling day, a voter may use only the assigned polling station and presents the Green NRC together with the Voter's Card. Officials check identity and the register, apply an indelible thumbnail mark, stamp the ballots and direct the voter to mark an X in the booth. The voter then folds or conceals the ballots, places them in the ballot box and leaves. Voting is secret. Priority and assistance arrangements apply to persons with disabilities, older voters, expectant mothers and illiterate voters. An assistant must be at least 18 and present a Green NRC. Canvassing is prohibited within 400 metres of a polling station, and political signs are prohibited within 100 metres. Double voting, removing or damaging ballots and pressuring officials over the count are offences or prohibited conduct. The Electoral Code of Conduct supports free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections. The ECZ can suspend activities for breaches, while electoral offences can lead to fines or imprisonment. Candidates face different eligibility rules. A presidential candidate must be at least 35, be a Zambian citizen by birth or descent, be a registered voter, hold a Grade 12 qualification or equivalent, submit an asset and liability declaration, satisfy tax-compliance requirements and provide 100 registered supporters in each province. A Member of Parliament must be at least 21, a citizen, a registered voter, hold a Grade 12 qualification or equivalent, submit an asset and liability declaration and provide 15 supporters in the constituency. A mayor or council chairperson must be at least 21, meet the citizenship, voter, education and asset requirements, provide 15 district supporters and submit council-tax clearance. A councillor must be at least 19, hold a Grade 12 qualification or equivalent, be a citizen or a resident-permit holder residing in the district and provide council-tax clearance and nine ward supporters. Party candidates need an adoption certificate; independent candidates do not. Nomination, election and proportional representation-list fees are prescribed for each election cycle, so the exact amount must be checked for the relevant election. For the 2026 election, nominations run from 18 to 22 May and campaigning from 21 May to 12 August. Immediately after polls close, the Presiding Officer and Polling Assistants count ballots at the polling station in the presence of accredited party agents, monitors and observers. Officials sign the results form, provide copies and post the form publicly. Returning Officers tally constituency, district and ward results, declare National Assembly and local results and announce presidential constituency results. The ECZ Chairperson declares the President-elect at the National Results Centre, and the full results are published through the ECZ and the media. A nomination challenge is brought by nomination petition. A presidential election petition goes to the Constitutional Court within seven days and has a hearing deadline of 14 days. A parliamentary election petition goes to the High Court within 14 days and has a hearing deadline of 90 days. A mayoral, council-chairperson or councillor petition goes to the Local Government Elections Tribunal within 14 days and has a hearing deadline of 30 days. Courts or the prescribed polling-station process may order or conduct a recount. Applicable court or tribunal fees and costs depend on the procedure. The President-elect takes the oath before the Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice and then assumes executive office. The President appoints Ministers from the National Assembly. Proportional representation seats are distributed after the oath, and National Assembly confidence is relevant to responsible governance. Zambia has no automatic coalition formula established by the available election rules.