Tuesday, May 30, 2017
At a glance
Support for elections: The proportion of Malawians who say elections are the best way of choosing the country’s leaders dropped from 71% in 2014 to 57%, continuing a decade-long decline. Support for elections is higher among better-educated citizens.
Disenchanted by electoral process: Only one-third of Malawians say the 2014 general elections were “completely free and fair” (19%) or “free and fair with minor problems” (13%). Respondents say low turnout for by-elections is largely due to a lack of interest or voter fatigue (22%), the feeling that voting makes no difference (17%), and the belief that elections are not free and fair (12%).
Demand for electoral reforms: Regardless of political-party affiliation, a majority of Malawians want:
- An age limit of 70 years for presidential candidates (77%)
- A minimum education requirement of an MSCE certificate for MPs (83%)
- Selection of MEC members through applications rather than political-party nominations (74%)
