To enable more people to register to vote, the Ministry of the Interior and Security has announced that the period for revising the electoral roll will be extended to Monday 27 January 2025. Initially scheduled to end on 31 January 2025, this operation will now continue until 6 p.m. on 8 February 2025.
Due to various logistical and technical factors, the authorities have decided to postpone the closing date of the revision of the electoral roll, initially scheduled for the end of January 2025, until February 8 2025. This decision, communicated via Order no. 000170/MIS of January 27 2025, is intended to enable a greater number of Gabonese of voting age to register on the electoral roll. The new revision period will begin at 8 a.m. on February 1 2025.
“In accordance with order No. 000170/MIS of January 27 2025 extending the period for revising the electoral roll, the Ministry of the Interior and Security informs the population of voting age that the electoral roll revision operation, which was due to end on January 31 2025, has been extended by eight days”
PRESS RELEASE, Ministry of Home Affairs and Security – Gabon
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Security stressed the importance of this extension to enable as many people as possible, particularly those living in remote or hard-to-reach areas, to register and have any errors in their data rectified. Despite this extra time, the authorities have made it clear that everything possible will be done to ensure that the elections take place under the best possible conditions.
“‘Taking into account the transition timetable. This legislative requirement calls for proactive measures to be taken as soon as the electoral year begins. For the Ministry of the Interior and Security, this will involve dealing with the following main situations: enrolment of first-time voters. These are Gabonese citizens aged 18 or over who have never registered on the electoral roll. Change of polling centre for any voter who so requests, including those who did so during the exceptional period authorised by the Constitutional Court for the constitutional referendum on 16 November.”
Herman Immongault, Minister of Home Affairs and Security – Gabon
In this way, the Transitional Government hopes to boost voter confidence in the organisation of the elections, which will be held on April 12 2025 under the aegis of the Electoral Code Act of January 19 2025, and to guarantee greater representation at the ballot box.
