The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has outlined the requirements for Kenyans seeking to register as voters under the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) 2026 exercise, as fresh turnout figures show hundreds of thousands have already enrolled.
Since the exercise began on March 30, the commission says 344,316 new voters have been registered, alongside 18,610 transfer applications and 329 updates or changes of voter particulars, signalling early momentum in the nationwide drive.
The IEBC said the exercise is part of efforts to expand the voters’ roll and improve participation ahead of future elections, especially targeting first-time voters and young people joining the electorate.
To register, the commission says applicants must present an original national identity card or a valid Kenyan passport, warning that photocopies will not be accepted at any registration centre.
Only Kenyan citizens aged 18 years and above at the time of registration are eligible to be enrolled in the Register of Voters.
The IEBC further requires all applicants to physically present themselves before a registration officer at an authorised registration centre across the country, including Huduma Centres, constituency offices, and institutions of higher learning.
Applicants are then required to manually complete Form A, the official voter registration application, before undergoing biometric capture. This includes fingerprints, a photograph, iris scan, and personal details such as name and ID or passport number.
The commission said the biometric system remains central to maintaining a clean and credible Register of Voters, which has been in use since the introduction of biometric registration following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
IEBC also clarified that Kenyans who registered between 2012 and 2026 do not need to register again unless their details are missing or require updates.
The ongoing exercise, running for 30 days, is being conducted under the theme “Deepening Democracy in Kenya Through Inclusive Voter Registration,” with the commission urging eligible Kenyans to take advantage of the period.
The commission has in recent years intensified registration drives targeting first-time voters, particularly those turning 18 after the 2022 Kenyan General Election, in a bid to broaden participation and address historically low youth turnout.
The IEBC says the biometric registration system remains key to reducing duplication and improving the integrity of the voters’ register, which continues to be a central focus in Kenya’s electoral reforms.
