“ALL VOTES COUNT” ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF INVALID OR REJECTED BALLOTS IN AFRICA”

The Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (DPAPS) of the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA) with the support of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) organised the 9th Annual Continental Forum of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) on 12 & 13 March 2025 in Accra, Ghana. The Forum sought to address the problem of invalid or rejected ballots in Africa.  The Forum was followed by the AAEA General Assembly taking place on 14 March 2025.

The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries and its members commissions namely Electoral Commissions of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South-Africa, Zanzibar, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the Forum. The electoral commissions of DRC, Mauritius and Mozambique were amongst the panels who shared experiences on “The concept of Invalid, Rejected and Spoilt Ballots: Understanding the Extent of the problem and its Causes, Electoral System and Ballot Design and Marking, where one of the sessions was facilitated by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.