Understanding Continuous Voter Registration (CVR)

Understanding Continuous Voter Registration (CVR)

On Monday, September 29, 2025, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) resumed its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in preparation for the 2027 General Elections. This resumption was formally announced through Gazette Notice No. 12008 dated August 27, 2025, issued under the authority of Articles 38(3)(a), 83, and 88(4)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of Kenya. With an ambitious target of registering 6.3 million new voters across the country, this serves as a timely moment to reflect on how CVR is undertaken.

The Gazette Notice made clear that eligible Kenyans—who have attained the age of eighteen (18) years and are in possession of a valid national identity card or a valid Kenyan passport—may visit any of the 290 IEBC Constituency Offices countrywide to register as a voter, transfer their voter registration to a different electoral area, inspect their registration information and correct or update their voter particulars. This exercise is to be conducted from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) as from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The notice specified that there shall be no continuous registration in electoral areas with scheduled by-elections. Additionally, separate arrangements, through a gazette notice, would be made for registration in diaspora stations and prisons. To operationalize this exercise, the IEBC issued a companion Gazette Notice No. 12009, appointing Registration Officers and Assistant Registration Officers for all constituencies.

As the Commission pursues its ambitious registration targets through its 290 constituency offices nationwide, citizens ought to present themselves at registration centres and register as voters. This exercise is an opportunity for every person who is of age, has relocated or has not registered to invoke their political right. It is an invitation to join the political community and shape Kenya’s future through the ballot. The ball now falls on your court as the Commission pursues its ambitious registration targets, citizens ought to present themselves at registration centres and register as voters.