The proposed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, currently before Parliament, seeks to eliminate the requirement for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to livestream election results as they are announced at polling stations.
This change involves deleting Section 39(1G) of the Elections Act, which mandates IEBC to provide a mechanism for real-time public viewing of results. Under the existing law, these livestreamed results serve solely for public information and have been a key transparency measure since the 2007 election disputes.
If the bill is enacted, the widely used live updates displayed at the National Tallying Centre may no longer be available during the 2027 general elections. Media outlets and the public have relied on this data to follow the vote count closely and ensure election credibility.
Key points of the proposed amendment include:
- Removal of the legal obligation for IEBC to livestream results from polling stations.
- Potential suspension of live result displays at the National Tallying Centre.
- Reduction in statutory transparency safeguards introduced after the 2007 election crisis.
The amendment has sparked debate over its impact on election transparency and public trust in the electoral process.
