The Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is under scrutiny over a discrepancy in voter registration data, with the United Democratic Party (UDP) reporting 183,163 records, while the IEC announced 212,095 supplementary voter registrations. This difference of 28,932 records has raised questions about the IEC's data-processing procedures and the number of records ultimately retained. The issue has sparked concerns about electoral data transparency ahead of The Gambia's presidential election on December 5, 2026.
According to IEC Vice Chairman Cherno Mamadou Jallow, the 212,095 figure represents raw data collected from registration centers, including replacement cards, reprints, and spoiled or damaged cards, along with records later verified. The IEC also identified 14,334 people who registered more than once and 24,058 multiple-registration instances. These distinctions are crucial, as registration-related figures may measure different things, such as a person, a registration record, a duplicate entry, or a card-replacement transaction.
The UDP has questioned the difference and sought clarification regarding the underlying registration data and procedures used to process the records. The party's concerns raise legitimate questions about data transparency and stakeholders' ability to understand how the published figures were produced. However, a difference between two datasets does not, on its own, establish electoral malpractice, deliberate manipulation, or the exclusion of eligible voters.
To resolve the issue, the IEC needs to provide a transparent and verifiable breakdown showing how the two figures relate. This would involve releasing the dataset or statistical breakdown underlying the announced figure of 212,095, the dataset containing the 183,163 records reportedly provided to the UDP, and a breakdown of replacement cards, reprints, spoiled or damaged cards, duplicate entries, and other adjustments.
The IEC's explanation offers a possible reason for the difference, but the information does not fully reconcile the two figures. Until the underlying datasets and processing records are examined, the discrepancy should be treated as an outstanding question about electoral data transparency, not as proof of electoral malpractice or proof that the IEC's figures are correct.
The controversy comes as The Gambia prepares for its presidential election on December 5, 2026. The IEC has announced the dates for the commencement of nominations, and amid pressure from the opposition party, UDP, the IEC announced that it will release the Master Register and the supplementary Register to all political parties after court proceedings conclude.
The central question remains: Can the IEC provide a transparent, verifiable breakdown showing how the two figures relate? The answer will be crucial in resolving the controversy and ensuring the integrity of The Gambia's electoral process.
Key points
- The Gambia's IEC faces scrutiny over a discrepancy in voter registration data.
- The UDP reported 183,163 records, while the IEC announced 212,095 supplementary voter registrations.
- The IEC needs to provide a transparent and verifiable breakdown to resolve the controversy.
