On Wednesday, Zimbabweans will participate in the country’s second general election since the 2017 coup that removed the late leader Robert Mugabe from power.
Here are some facts and figures about the vote:
– Who is running to be elected? –
– Voters will directly cast their votes for a president, 210 national lawmakers, and 1,970 local government and municipal leaders.
A president is elected through an absolute majority.
If no candidate secures a majority of 50 percent plus one of the votes, a run-off election is triggered.
Legislators and municipal council members need only achieve a basic majority to secure victory.
Eleven individuals, including one female candidate, are competing for the nation’s highest office in the presidential race, while over 600 candidates aspire to secure one of the available elected parliamentary positions.
Each of the candidates running for the presidency contributed $20,000 to be listed on the ballot paper, while those aspiring to become parliament members paid $1,000 each.
– Day of the vote –
– Out of a population exceeding 15 million, 6.6 million Zimbabweans have registered to vote, as the nation prepares for what is anticipated to be a polarizing election.
– At over 12,300 polling stations, voters place their ballots during a 12-hour window, commencing at 7:00 AM (0500 GMT) and concluding at 7:00 PM (1700 GMT).
With the exception of diplomats and their partners, millions of Zimbabweans residing and employed abroad must be physically present within the country to participate in the voting process.
– The release of final results is required within a span of five days following the polling.