ECZ Reaffirms Position on How Ballot Papers Should Be Marked

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has clarified how voters should mark their ballot papers, saying a ballot should not automatically be rejected simply because it does not carry a cross.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the Commission said the law requires voters to mark their ballot papers in a way that clearly indicates the candidate they wish to vote for.

The ECZ was responding to what it described as misleading statements from some stakeholders, including political party leaders, regarding the marking and validity of ballot papers.

The Commission acknowledged that Regulation 33(d) of the Electoral Process (General) Regulations, 2016 instructs voters to use a cross when marking their ballots.

However, it said this provision must be read together with Regulation 46, which sets out the circumstances under which a ballot paper should be rejected.

According to the ECZ, a ballot marked with something other than a cross should not be declared invalid simply because a different mark was used.

The Commission said such a ballot can still be valid if the voter's intention is clearly shown, the mark does not identify the voter and there is no evidence that the voter can be identified.

The ECZ has therefore urged voters to use a cross when marking their ballot papers but stressed that the absence of a cross alone does not make a ballot invalid.

The Commission also said the position is not a new interpretation of the law, noting that the same practice has been followed since as far back as 2006.

The clarification comes just days before Zambia's August 13, 2026 General Election, as the ECZ intensifies voter education and preparations for the polls.

The Commission has urged political parties and other stakeholders to provide accurate information to voters and avoid statements that could create confusion or undermine confidence in the electoral process.