Dar es Salaam – The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has officially closed its permanent voter register with 717,557 eligible voters ahead of the October 29, 2025, general election, whilst defending controversial early voting procedures that the main opposition party claims could facilitate electoral fraud.
The announcement comes as the semi-autonomous archipelago prepares for what many observers consider a critical test of its democratic institutions and the stability of its unique power-sharing government.
In a press conference held at the ZEC headquarters in Maisara on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, ZEC chairperson Judge George Joseph Kazi provided a detailed breakdown of the electoral landscape.
The 717,557 registered voters will cast their ballots across 50 constituencies, using a network of 457 main polling stations and 1,752 smaller sub-stations. The finalised register shows a slight female majority, with women comprising 53 per cent (378,334) of the electorate, while men account for 47 per cent (339,223).
Judge Kazi also addressed the contentious issue of early voting, a system that allows certain citizens to cast their ballots a day before the general election. He announced that 50 special polling stations, one in each constituency, would be established for this purpose, with the early voting scheduled for October 28, 2025.
READ MORE: ZEC Clears 11 Candidates for 2025 Zanzibar Presidential Race
This procedure has drawn sharp criticism from the leading opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, which is also a partner in Zanzibar’s Government of National Unity. The party has alleged that the early voting system is a ploy by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to manipulate the election outcome.
ZEC Director of Elections, Thabit Idarous Faina, robustly defended the early voting system, dismissing the opposition’s fears as unfounded. He argued that the presence of party agents at all polling stations would ensure transparency and prevent any irregularities.
“The notion that early voting is designed for theft is a misconception,” Faina stated. “It is there to help citizens who previously missed the opportunity to vote.”
He elaborated that the system was primarily introduced to accommodate election officials, police officers, and other personnel who are on duty on election day and are therefore unable to vote at their registered stations.
In the past, he noted, some of these officials had been unfairly accused of being involved in vote-rigging schemes when they were simply unable to exercise their constitutional right.
READ MORE: Zanzibar VP: World’s Silence Emboldens Tanzania’s Democratic Decline
“The solution was to find a way for these people to be considered, otherwise we would have a large number of eligible voters being denied their right to vote,” Faina explained.
Zanzibar has a history of politically charged and often contentious elections. The power-sharing Government of National Unity was established through a 2010 referendum as a mechanism to ease tensions between the long-ruling CCM and the opposition.
The upcoming election is seen as a crucial test for the stability of this arrangement and the democratic maturity of the islands.
Judge Kazi urged all political parties to conduct peaceful and civilised campaigns, adhering to the electoral code of conduct. He praised the decorum shown by the parties so far and reiterated the commission’s commitment to delivering a free, fair, and transparent election.
“The commission will continue to closely monitor all election activities to ensure citizens get leaders elected fairly and transparently,” he emphasised.
