Elections in Malawi

Malawi elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president and the vice-president are elected on one ballot for a five-year term by the people. A simple plurality is required to win; there is no provision for a runoff election. The National Assembly has 193 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. Malawi is a multi-party system, which means that there are multiple parties as well as a number of independent politicians who do not formally associate with any party.

Malawian citizens who are 18 or over are entitled to vote. Foreign nationals who have lived in Malawi for 7 years can also vote.[1]

Latest elections

2019 Malawian general election

General elections were held in Malawi on 21 May 2019 to elect the President, National Assembly and local government councillors.[2] Incumbent President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party was re-elected, with his party remaining the largest in the National Assembly. However, on 3 February 2020, the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election results due to evidence of irregularities, and ordered fresh elections be held.[3]

President

Candidate		Running mate	Party	Votes	%
	Peter Mutharika	Everton Chimulirenji	Democratic Progressive Party	1,940,709	38.57
	Lazarus Chakwera	Sidik Mia	Malawi Congress Party	1,781,740	35.41
	Saulos Chilima	Michael Usi	United Transformation Movement	1,018,369	20.24
	Atupele Muluzi	Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo	United Democratic Front	235,164	4.67
	Peter Dominico Sinosi Driver Kuwani	Archibald Kalawang'oma	Mbakuwaku Movement for Development	20,369	0.40
	John Eugenes Chisi	Timothy Watch Kamulete	Umodzi Party	19,187	0.38
	Hadwick Kaliya	Mabvuto Alfred Ng’ona	Independent	15,726	0.31
Total				5,031,264	100.00
Valid votes				5,031,264	98.54
Invalid/blank votes				74,719	1.46
Total votes				5,105,983	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				6,859,570	74.44
Source: Malawi Electoral Commission

National Assembly

Party		Vote	%	Seat	+/–
	Democratic Progressive Party	1,293,797	26.04	62	+11
	Malawi Congress Party	1,108,735	22.32	55	+7
	United Transformation Movement	491,845	9.90	4	New
	United Democratic Front	227,335	4.58	10	–4
	People's Party	121,072	2.44	5	–21
	Alliance for Democracy	24,212	0.49	1	0
	Other parties	40,209	0.81	0	0
	Independents	1,660,569	33.43	55	+3
To be determined		–	–	1	–
Invalid/blank votes		103,174	–	–	–
Total		5,070,948	100	193	0
Registered voters/turnout				–	–
Source: Maravi Post, MEC

Local elections

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Democratic Progressive Party
	Malawi Congress Party
	United Transformation Movement				New
	Independents				New
Invalid/blank Votes			–	–	–
Total			100
Registered voters/turnout		6,859,570		–	–
Source: MEC, NPL

2020 Malawian presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Malawi on 23 June 2020, having originally been scheduled for 19 May and later 2 July.[4] The result of the re-run elections was a victory for Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party, who defeated Mutharika by margin of 59% to 40%.

Candidate		Running mate	Party	Votes	%
	Lazarus Chakwera	Saulos Chilima	Malawi Congress Party	2,604,043	59.34
	Peter Mutharika	Atupele Muluzi	Democratic Progressive Party	1,751,877	39.92
	Peter Dominico Sinosi Driver Kuwani	Archibald Kalawang'oma	Mbakuwaku Movement for Development	32,456	0.74
Total				4,388,376	100.00
Valid votes				4,388,376	98.71
Invalid/blank votes				57,323	1.29
Total votes				4,445,699	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				6,859,570	64.81
Source: Malawi Electoral Commission

Previous Elections

Referendums

• Malawian referendum for democracy, 1993

Elections

• 2014 Malawian general election
• 2009 Malawian general election
• 2004 Malawian general election
• 1999 Malawian general election
• 1994 Malawian general election

See also

• Cabinet of Malawi, Past cabinets of Malawi
• Politics of Malawi
• List of Malawian political parties
• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system

References

2. MEC announces Malawi tripartite election date: May 21 2019 Nyasa Times, 21 February 2018
3. Dionne, Kim Yi; Dulani, Boniface (February 4, 2020). "A Malawi court just ordered a do-over presidential election. Here's what you need to know". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
4. "Not May 19, Malawi fresh elections slated for July 2-MEC". Nyasa Times. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 24 March 2020.

External links

• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• African Elections Database
• International academic conference on the 2009 General Elections
• Video Documentary on Malawi's 2009 General Elections