The Malawi Electoral Commission says procurement of new hand-held Electoral Management Devices (EMDs) and accompanying software for the 2025 general election is at an advanced stage.

In a statement issued by the Commission’s Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi, the electoral body anticipates the EMDs to be delivered, configured, commissioned and ready for voter registration by June 30, 2024.

Reads the statement in part: “The EMDs will be used in key electoral processes including voter registration, voter transfer, voter verification, candidate nomination and results transmission and management.”

“The procurement process for the EMDs is currently underway and progressing on schedule.”

According to the Commission, the EMDs will replace the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits which were used in the 2019 and 2020 elections and are currently being used during by-elections.

“In line with the Commission’s 2025 General Election Operational Plan and Calendar, voter registration is slated to commence in September 2024.

“A detailed schedule for this process will be provided in due course. The Commission upholds its core values of innovation, accountability, responsiveness, integrity, inclusivity, and transparency,” said Mpesi.

The EMDs will be used in key electoral processes including voter registration, voter transfer, voter verification, candidate nomination and results transmission and management.

The Commission says as part of its strategic initiatives, it has planned and budgeted funds for procurement of new hand-held EMDs.