Twenty-five presidential aspirants have collected nomination forms to contest the Gambia presidential election scheduled for 5 December 2026. Joseph Colley, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), stated, "Nominations will start from 3rd to 14th November, 2026. As of now, twenty-three Nomination Forms have been collected by different aspirants who want to contest in the 2026 Presidential Elections." Regarding the electoral preparations, Mr. Colley noted, "Sittings of the Revising Court are nearing completion. I learned that most of the cases have been dealt with." The commission is also managing administrative requirements for the event. Mr. Colley added, "Accreditation of Election Observers and the Media is ongoing. Currently, many applications have been received, and we hope to process them before the start of Nominations and Election."
Official Nomination Period Schedule
The official nomination period for presidential candidates will take place from 3 November to 14 November 2026. This window serves as the formal timeframe during which all prospective candidates must present their documentation to the electoral body. Joseph Colley, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), addressed the standards for this process, stating, "Each aspirant is expected to fully meet all the Nomination requirements, as legally sanctioned. The schedule of Nominations (the timetable or the order in which prospective candidates will submit their papers) will be shared in due course."
Managing the integrity of the voter list remains a priority for the commission following the 2026 supplementary voter registration exercise. The IEC received 1,694 objections regarding voter eligibility during this period. These objections are currently being processed to ensure the accuracy of the final electoral roll. Addressing the conduct of political discourse during these preparations, Joseph Colley stated, "Misleading information, hate speech and verbal provocation have no place in our society. I call on all such actors to desist from such actions, as it may be a source of conflict and violence."
Logistical preparations for the 5 December election include a significant staffing effort. The IEC aims to recruit, train, and deploy approximately 9,000 personnel to polling stations across the country to manage the voting process. These staff members will be responsible for overseeing the casting of ballots and maintaining order at the various polling centers throughout the voting day.
Technological infrastructure is also being updated to support the tabulation and reporting of election results. The IEC is currently developing a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform for results management. This development is being conducted with support from the EU-UNDP GREAT project. This system is intended to enhance the efficiency and transparency of how the commission handles data throughout the electoral process. By integrating this new technology, the IEC aims to streamline the flow of information from polling locations to the central tallying centers, ensuring that the reporting of the final results is both accurate and timely for the public.
