The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) uses the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) only for voter registration, not for voting or tallying results.
A TikTok video shared on 23 April 2025 claiming that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had announced the introduction of fingerprint voter registration for the 2026 elections and the abolition of voter cards is FALSE.
The video was captioned: “2026 Balaiba! ECZ brings fingerprint voter registration for 2026, no voter’ card/registration system. Kuyabebele”
The video featured a short, edited clip of ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis, whose remarks about the biometric voter register were cut and misrepresented to mislead viewers. A Google search revealed the full video, which shows Zaloumis reading recommendations from the Electoral Reform Technical Committee (ERTC) report.
In the full video, Zaloumis says, “Submitters propose that the Electoral Process Act be amended to include provisions for electronic voter registration. This is not voting but electronic voter registration. The amendment aims to modernise the voter registration process, enhance efficiency, improve accessibility, and ensure greater accuracy in identifying voters and managing the voter’s roll.”
An analysis of the ERTC report, particularly Page 29, Section 2.2, confirms that the proposal only calls for electronic voter registration, not electronic voting.
Biometric voter registration is not new in Zambia. The country has used biometric technology since 2006, with upgrades in 2011, 2015, and 2021, including the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which captures fingerprints to prevent duplicate registrations. The 2025 ERTC report did not introduce a new system but merely recommended strengthening biometric registration and anchoring it formally in the Electoral Process Act.
ECZ officials have consistently clarified that ABIS is strictly for registration and does not replace voter cards, nor is it used for voting or tallying results.Voter cards remain in use, and the ECZ has confirmed there are no plans to introduce electronic voting for the 2026 elections.
A nationwide mass registration exercise is scheduled to begin on 13 October 2025, running for about 30 days and targeting 3.5 million new or replacement registrations. Voters with valid 2020 voter cards do not need to re-register unless they require a replacement or transfer. The ECZ plans to produce 7.7 million new voter card forms and lamination pouches to accommodate these needs. This is not a redesign of the voter card but a move to replace lost or damaged cards and improve durability.
In a 7 August 2025 statement, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro strongly dismissed claims that the commission was secretly introducing electronic voting or amending electoral laws unilaterally. He reiterated that ABIS is only used for voter registration to prevent duplication and does not support electronic voting or result tallying.
This fact-check was produced by Mzeziti Mwanza as part of the African Fact-checking Alliance incubation programme. It was produced with peer mentorship from Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, PesaCheck, with financial support from Norway. AFCA mentorship respects the journalistic independence of the researchers, offering access to advanced techniques and tools. The editorial decision remains with CYLA.