Tanzania’s Zanzibar Announces General Election Schedule; Early Voting To Begin Oct. 28

DAR ES SALAAM, Xinhua: Tanzania’s Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Monday released the official timetable for the 2025 general elections, announcing that early voting will take place on Oct. 28, followed by the main election day on Oct. 29.

This marks the second time in Zanzibar’s history that early voting will be held one day before the general elections, the first instance occurring in 2020.

According to a statement issued by the ZEC, early voting will be conducted in accordance with Section 82 of the Election Act No. 4 of 2018, with eligible participants including election supervisors, polling station managers, police officers on duty, ZEC commissioners and staff, as well as voters assigned to security duties on election day.

The commission said the collection of nomination forms will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10.

Candidate nominations are scheduled for Sept. 11, with the campaign period beginning the same day and concluding on Oct. 27. Vote counting and the announcement of results will take place between Oct. 29 and Nov. 1.

The ZEC also pledged to ensure inclusive voting environments for people with disabilities. For the first time, the commission has documented and registered voters with disabilities in the electoral roll.