The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed circulating reports suggesting that a new bill seeks to prohibit live streaming of election results or revert to manual voter identification and results transmission methods used in 2007.
In a statement released on July 30, 2026, the commission clarified that the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 currently before Parliament does not intend to amend Section 44 of the Elections Act. This section governs the use of the Integrated Elections Management System for voter registration, identification, and result transmission.
Purpose of the Proposed Amendments
IEBC explained that the bill aims to introduce a complementary mechanism for transmitting results in locations where electronic transmission is hindered by inadequate network coverage, specifically where the minimum 3G standard is unavailable.
- The bill does not seek to ban live broadcasts or live streaming of election outcomes.
- It aligns the Elections Act with the Supreme Court's 2017 ruling affirming that the statutory Form 34A is the definitive record of polling station results.
- Presiding officers will electronically transmit images of completed Form 34A documents, which are signed and witnessed by party agents, to enhance verification.
These changes are intended to provide legal clarity, improve election administration, and establish a transparent framework for resolving disputes.
The clarification arrives amid concerns that the commission might restrict live streaming of results during the 2027 General Election, a move that had raised questions about the election's credibility.
